JUDSONIA, Arkansas — A community came together Sunday afternoon to support a family in its time of mourning.
On January 17, 42-year-old Christy Rooks of Wynne was reported missing.
Her remains were found last weekend and her boyfriend has been charged with murder.
A benefit for her family was held on Sunday, in hopes of doing more than just raising money.
People traveled from all over to Judsonia to celebrate the life of Christy Rooks and help out her family with this unexpected loss.
The organizer of the benefit, Crystal Candler, said she did this to help raise money and show the family the community cares, but more importantly, she wants everyone to learn from Christy's tragedy.
"This was a tragic, tragic loss to a life," she said.
From the music to the food to the silent auction to the dancing, Exit 48 Dance Hall and Event Center in Judsonia was filled with love and support on Sunday afternoon.
"It's just overwhelming. I mean really I don't know how to describe it," Christy Rooks' aunt, Sally Smith, said.
The community came together to host a benefit for Christy Rooks' family, a 42-year-old Cross County woman who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend in January.
"When we heard, we were like we gotta show her that we love her and we're here and we're going to try to support her in every way we possibly can," Candler said.
Candler was the mastermind behind the event and said she didn't know Christy personally, but her Aunt is like a second mom to her.
"She is the most loving and caring lady that I have ever met and she took me and my husband in like we were her kids," she said.
Candler said her and her husband were able to put the benefit together in under one week with the help of local businesses and a community that wanted to lift a family up in one of the their most difficult times.
Smith said it still doesn't feel real.
"It's gonna take a while to accept the fact that she's not going to be with us anymore," she said.
Smith said losing Christy feels like a nightmare they haven't woken up from, but they hope this benefit helps keep her memory alive and spreads a specific message.
"There is abusive situations out there and these young ladies need to really pay attention to who they are dealing with," she said.
A community spending their Super Bowl Sunday remembering a bubbly and fun-loving woman while raising awareness that tragedy happens everywhere, but with hardship comes opportunities.
"There is good things that can come out of a very bad situation," Candler said.
If you'd like to help out Christy's family you can donate to her GoFundMe page.