Hundreds Attend Vigil for Local Family Members Killed in N.J. Crash; Funeral is Saturday

Some 300-400 people came to Stephenson Middle School Sunday night to share memories of Ainsworth, Jacqueline and Drew Mallett, local family members killed in a car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike last Thursday.

According to information on Stephenson Middle School website, the funeral service for the Malletts is Saturday, Jan.5, 11 a.m. at the Assemblies of God Tabernacle, 1580 Agape Way, Decatur.

The Mallett's daughter Nicole survived, but a cousin who spoke at the vigil said she is "not doing well at all," and that Ainsworth Mallett's mother, whom the family reportedly traveled up north to see, has not yet been told the devastating news.

The Malletts ran the Golden Krust restaurant on Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain. Jacqueline Mallett worked at Stephenson Middle.

Some who spoke wept as they described the family, using words such as "so kind, so nice"; and some memories elicited a gentle laughter throughout the crowd. An athletics coach recalled Jacqueline Mallett -- "Miss Jackie" -- presenting one of the teams with a "banquet" that included tasty oxtails: "I was like Drew, you're officially a member of the team," he said.

One speaker described Ainsworth Mallett as "a kind, good, respectable man."

Read other comments about the Mallett family here.