Mourners Gather To Remember Caylee

Hundreds Attend Prayer Service For Slain Toddler; Grandparents Urge Support For Daughter

(AP)  Hundreds of mourners remembered slain Florida toddler Caylee Anthony in a music-filled service Tuesday, months after her mysterious disappearance inspired dozens of volunteers to search for her body before and after her mother was charged with killing her.

"There are days you don't know what to say and these are one of these days," said Pastor David Uth, who offered a "prayer of peace" for Casey Anthony, who was in the Orange County Jail less than a mile away, facing a first-degree murder charge. She has pleaded not guilty and claims a baby sitter kidnapped Caylee.

Images of the girl, who was 2 when she disappeared, flashed on a giant screen in front of the First Baptist Church of Orlando sanctuary as a pianist played, "You Are My Sunshine" and "If You're Happy and You Know It." A video montage of her jumping on a bed and dressed like an Easter bunny ended the service.

Casey Anthony could have asked for permission to watch the memorial broadcast live on TV but didn't, according to jail officials. The 22-year-old said in a statement read by her attorney that she missed Caylee "every day and every minute of every day."

Casey Anthony's parents, George and Cindy, who arranged the public service, urged mourners to support their daughter.

"It breaks my heart today that Casey isn't here today to honor her child who she loved so much," Cindy Anthony said during the eulogy. "Casey, I hope you're listening to this. I wish I could comfort you. I wish I could take away your pain and wipe away your tears."

Thousands of mourners had been expected, but only several hundred people showed up, including many who never knew Caylee or her family. They included Jessica Smith, who drove 160 miles from West Palm Beach with a co-worker to attend, saying she felt compelled to be there "to say our prayers for her."

"I'm a mother myself," said Smith, 25, who has a son Caylee's age. "It touches close to home."

Caylee disappeared in June, but her mother didn't report her missing until a month later, telling authorities she was looking for her. Caylee's remains were found in December in woods near her home, about two months after prosecutors brought charges against her mother.

Casey Anthony also said in her statement that she wished the service would have been private and not open to the public and media.

"I still don't want a public event with cameras and everybody around for Caylee's service, but I can't stop my parents from doing what they want," she said. "I truly hope that it will help them."

George Anthony said his daughter deserved love and letters of support while she was in jail.

"I miss my daughter, Casey," George Anthony said. "Do not form judgments because I tell you, you do not want to be in any of our shoes."

Security was tight, given that the Anthony family had faced protesters at their house before the daughter was arrested. A dozen deputies were stationed at the church and mourners had to pass through a metal detector to get into the sanctuary. No protesters showed up.

Some mourners said they felt a connection to Caylee since they had been following the case since she was reported missing.

"I had hoped she would have been found alive," said Justine Lorence, 22, who drove up with Smith from West Palm Beach. "I feel like I have to pay my respects to her because I've been watching this from the start."

[bodylanguage-2009]

Unfortunatley, Cindy MUST still have the last word. She is the ringmaster and this is HER circus. She seems to thrive on attention as does Casey. They just don''t know when to get off the merry-go-round.

[mdalerwill]

Wow, even the memorial has to be about Casey. Seems like the grandparents can''t even say Caylee''s name without including "Casey is innocent" in the same breath. How incredibly sad that even this one ceremony could JUST be about Caylee.

[cepe10-2009]

This "meter reader" needs to be charged. why is he still free?

[crzmeat1]

The mother should be burnt till death by fire in the town square no if ands or buts, When folks engage in barbaric behavior and take their misery out on defenceless children should be destroyed if not this behavior will continue and folks that cover for them should get the same. Do you folks really want to stop this prayer and hell won''t work this will I gaurantee.

[cheteunice]

DaVicar4, I hope you are not as inhuman as your comment made you sound!

[urnmyworld02]

I wonder how Caylee died? Was it a freak-accident and she tried to cover it up, or was it simply that she no longer wanted to be a mother? Now days mother''s her age think it''s okay to have a child and still go out and party, like it''s priorty for them to have a life....I don''t think soooo! Once that child is born, that IS your life....I hope she seeks the death penalty...All Caylee wanted was her mother''s attention, and look where it got her... R.I.P. CAYLEE

[smurfcrusher]

I guess this means Casey shouldn''t perform Infanticide.

You''ll notice nobody seems very... "interested" in catching Caylee''s killer. Maybe all involved parties believe the killer is already caught? Could be...

[nirak2-2009]

Grandmother Cindy once said that the father of little Caylee will never be known and Casey''s story about the father being killed in a car accident was another lie, I wonder about the relationship of Casey, Lee and little Caylee. Something smells fishy in Denmark to me. I would bet they all had the same DNA

[gosukabug]

Another fine candidate for Mother of the year! Will it be Casey Anthoney? One (or all) of the Future Fishwives of Gloucester High School? Or This breeding halfwit, Nadya Suleman? Maybe it will be the murdering single mommy from New York who drowned her three children before attempting suicide! Such fine poster children for single motherdom! Future single mommies, consider birth control or abortion before becoming a drain on my tax dollars, please.

[andie52]

In the meantime her so called mother Casey Anthony was in court before the judge a few weeks ago, not in shackles or prison garb but in a suit writing notes and giggling with her lawyer. What a lovely couple.

Why did George and Cindy have to screen the mourners and also ask for immunity before giving any testimony? Sorry but they are just as culpable in the death of this child as Casey.