Friends of Sunset Hills college student Ally Kostial, who police said was murdered in Mississippi last weekend near her college campus at Ole Miss, are gathering Thursday to honor her memory and remember the “sunshine” she brought to their lives.

Alexandria “Ally” Kostial, 21, graduated from Lindbergh High School in 2016 and was a senior in the Ole Miss School of Business Administration, majoring in marketing. She was spending the summer at the University of Mississippi taking classes and teaching fitness, her father, former Sunset Hills Ward 3 Alderman Keith Kostial, posted on Facebook.

Authorities in Lafayette County, Mississippi, on Tuesday charged Ole Miss student Brandon Theesfeld, 22, with murder in Kostial’s death. Authorities have not officially released any other information about how she died.

But Kostial’s friends preferred to focus on how she lived. Her friends from Lindbergh and Ole Miss, where she was a founding member of her sorority Alpha Phi, turned to Facebook and Twitter to mourn Kostial, who they said was caring, irreplaceable and a positive presence in their lives even when they were going through bad times.

They will be gathering at the flagpole in front of Lindbergh High School at 8 p.m. Thursday to honor her memory.

She is survived by her parents, Keith and Cindy, and her brother Andrew, who graduated from Lindbergh High this year.

Keith Kostial announced on Facebook Thursday morning that visitation and funeral services for his daughter will be public, with both held this weekend at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, 505 S. Kirkwood Road.

Ole Miss classmate Anna Pasco posted to Facebook, “To ally.. the sweetest, most genuine, and uplifting person I’ve ever known. You will be so so missed by everyone’s lives that were honored enough to know you. Thank you for being such an unbelievable friend and always lifting me up and sparking my spirits every time I was around you. There will never be another like you & I pray that justice is served. I’ll see you again one day you tiny little angel. Rest In Peace. ♥️”

Sammie Martin wrote, “You were my sunshine and always will be. Love you forever sweet girl. ?rest in paradise”

Lindbergh classmate Madeleine Norris wrote about their adventures going to Country Megaticket concerts, spring break in Mexico and singing along to Shania Twain in the car.

“To my best friend, sister and other half..you were so kind and loving to everyone you ever met. You had the purest soul out of anyone and no matter what happened you were always optimistic and had a smile on your face,” Norris wrote.

Margaret Illig wrote, “Hello sunshine, words cant even describe how I feel right now about this sudden tragedy. You always knew how to make me smile and laugh when I was feeling down. You accepted me for who I am which I will be forever grateful for. What I loved about you was that you made everyone feel welcomed and loved, no matter who the person was. Ally, you were so special, you had a light that shined so brightly and you had such a positive outlook in life. You made life fun and you definitely lived life to the fullest. I feel so blessed that God has put an angel in my life starting in elementary school.”

The two bonded over bonfires, Girl Scouts and later, “deep talks about God,” Illig wrote.