Friends and family remember Ariana Smyth as a girl who wouldn't stop smiling
BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP -- Even though the rain smudged most of the ink on the index cards, people continued to pass a deck around to write down thoughts:
"Rest easy, sweet baby."
"Peace, my beautiful girl."
Dozens of people at a vigil Friday night wrote memories and thoughts to and "angel," Ariana Smyth, who died Tuesday night from injuries, police say, were caused by her mother's boyfriend.
The vigil came hours after Michael Disporto Jr., who is charged with murder and first-degree aggravated sexual assault in Ariana's death, appeared in a Camden court.
People at the vigil talked about the girl who went to bed smiling, and woke up with the same demeanor. There was never a time she wasn't giggling - the only time she wasn't happy was when she'd wake up in the middle of the night and ask for "Mimmie" - her word for Minnie Mouse, family members said.
"She never fussed. She was just beautiful," said her cousin Destiny Hughes, 16.
At the vigil, Hughes left a Hershey's chocolate bar on a photo of Ariana that friends and family signed. Ariana's favorite foods, Hughes said, were chocolate and rainbow sherbet.
Although Ariana was not yet 2, her birthday was July 15, Hughes said she would've grown up to be "amazing."
"Because she already had such a great personality. That personality would've followed her," Hughes said.
To celebrate, people at the vigil wore bright blue shirts with Minnie Mouse ears drawn on the back.
Tawnya Hughes, who referred to Ariana as her granddaughter, said Ariana's favorite thing to do was dance and clap her hands.
"When she would dance, everybody would dance," Tawnya -- "TT" to Ariana -- said. "She was my girl."
"She just brought kids together," said Pastor Mike Dryburgh, who spoke at the vigil.
Attendees were encouraged to donate to a fund that would help Ariana's father. His GoFundMe features a photo of Ariana, mouth agape and eyes squinted, smiling. The page, titled "Angels for Ariana," has raised over $6,300 in two days.
In a Facebook video that Tawnya Hughes posted, Ariana is in the carseat in the back of a moving car. The video was taken a week ago. Someone is tickling her, and she's giggling. For a second, though, she stops and looks inquisitively into the camera. And then she looks ahead and keeps laughing.
Kate Mishkin may be reached at kmishkin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KateMishkin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.