Egypt Covington was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in her Van Buren Township home on the evening of Friday, June 23.
She was last seen the previous night, when she went out with a friend, officials said. She also texted her stepmother, Kristin Covington, about getting off their family phone plan, and texted her siblings about wanting a French Bulldog puppy and a photo of her niece.
"What was she thinking 30 seconds before?" Chuck Covington said. "What was she going through 30 seconds before - 15 second before? Was she crying out for dad or mom?
Her mother, Tina Covington, 57, of the Ypsilanti area, said having to see her slain daughter's body was horrible and the devastation has made her physically sick.
Still, she at least has good memories of her daughter, she said.
The memorial gathering was previously scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, July 1 at Fraser's Pub in Ann Arbor, where Egypt Covington previously worked, but has been moved to a larger space at Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery at 720 Norris St. in Ypsilanti, due to the overwhelming response from those she knew, family said.
Numerous notes from loved ones have been difficult to keep up with, but Chuck and Kristin Covington said they read everything sent to them about their daughter.