Plane Crash Victims Laid To Rest

Friends and family packed Christ Church Episcopal on Wednesday morning for the funeral of the five members of the Antonakos family of Greenville, who were killed last week in a plane crash in Alaska.

More than 650 people, including about 70 family members and approximately 40 pall bearers, said their final goodbyes to Milton "Melet" Antonakos, his wife, Kimberly, and their three children, Mills, Ana and Olivia, all of whom were killed in the July 7 crash in Soldotna, Alaska.

Also killed in the crash were pilot, Walter Rediske, and family friends and traveling companions, the McManus family, also of Greenville. A funeral service for Chris and Stacey McManus, and their two children, Meghan and Conner, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, at Wiles Chapel on the campus of Newberry College.

Deanna Cordell, a kindergarten teacher at the church who knew both families, said she and fellow church members remain devastated by the tragedy.

"It's very sad. We're still in shock. It's just hard to believe the family is no longer with us. A great family. Very well-mannered, very loving children. [Parents] Kim and Melet were the best. They did very many things for the teachers here at the preschool."

The family, who was involved heavily with the Greek Festival, always bought the church's teachers lunches each year, Cordell recalled wistfully.

"it's just very sad that this has happened, and they will be missed. It's just a sad day."

Cordell taught children from both the Antonakos and McManus families as a teacher at the church's preschool.

"My thoughts are back when they were in kindergarten. I just look and I see five-year-olds again," she said.

"I was talking to Stacey [McManus] a couple of weeks ago about her trip, and I keep thinking how she was looking forward to this trip," said Cordell, who noted that the families enjoyed traveling together. "They were very excited to be going with the Antonakoses."

Since the accident, there has been an amazing outpouring of support from not only those who knew the two families, but strangers as well, she said. 

"This is overwhelming. It's overwhelming to us as a group all the outpouring of love, not only the schools, the communities, the Boy Scouts and everything the children were involved in. No one could have known the magnitude that this is. It's just incredible."

Cordell said, if anything, the accident has taught her to appreciate life and to keep it in perspective.

"Spend as much time [as you can] with your family," she said. "Don't take anything for granted. Just love one another. Don't worry about the small things. As my husband says, 'don't sweat the small stuff.' I've learned there's a lot that can be done in the community and the church; take every opportunity and advantage and do it. Do what you can with your children, and for your children."

In the meantime, those who knew and loved both families will need time to heal.

"Hearts are heavy" among church members, Cordell said. "And you can tell there's a cloud over everyone that walks through the doors. It's just really hard. I don't how else to say it."

"We are a community that is strong, supportive and we love one another," the Rev. Keith Turbeville said in an interview following the service. "Today we begin our healing process, as hard as it is. Today our tears will water the seeds of the wonderful memories we have of both of these families and everyone one of these individuals. And that will grow into beautiful memories that we'll carry with us forever."

"In the midst of all this sorrow, the personal loss, we see this as a brilliant celebration of resurrection," the church's Father Peter Hawes said following the service. "They have already entered into eternal life. And we shall see them again. It's a time to mingle tears and joy."