The two young girls carefully chose the words used Saturday to describe their memories of family members killed in a plane crash in Kenya.

Six-year-old Rebecca Morrell and 8-year-old Caroline Morrell dictated their thoughts and then reviewed each sentence with a family friend who read the girls' words aloud Saturday during a memorial service for their grandfather, Atlanta physician George Brumley Jr., and 11 other members of their family who perished when their small plane crashed into Mount Kenya on July 19.

The two girls lost their mother, Lois Brumley Morrell, 39; father, Richard Morrell, 43; and 11-year-old brother, Alexander Brumley Morrell, in the accident.

They recalled favorite moments with their father. "He helped us in the deep end [of the pool]. He reads Harry Potter to us and he makes me feel better when I'm feeling sad or scared," family friend Kimberly Richter read from statements she prepared with the girls, who attended the ceremony, but did not speak publicly.

Richter read their words to a crowd of at least 3,000 who attended the emotional two-hour service at Atlanta's Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Long before the ceremony began, every seat in the church sanctuary and balcony was filled. In a front row seat, a young girl sitting with family members clutched a brown teddy bear.

The overflow crowd was directed to a nearby school building on the church campus, where projectors were set up so the service could be viewed on screens. The loss touched many people and some who did not know the family personally attended the service.

For the first time since the crash, relatives spoke publicly about their lost loved ones.

Frank Brumley, George Brumley's brother, spoke about how the family has been dealing with its loss.

"The tragedy we face here is difficult to comprehend," Frank Brumley said. "Our family is shaken. . . . We are here to remember those who are no longer with us and at the same time, to cherish those who remain. . . . Much has been taken from us, but so much remains and our responsibility now is for those who must carry on."

George Brumley, retired head of pediatrics at Emory University's School of Medicine, had taken his family to Kenya on vacation. He was so impressed by a previous visit that he wanted to share what he had seen with his family. George Brumley and his wife, Jean Stanback Brumley, were well known for their philanthropy and community work.

Killed in the crash along with George Brumley, 68, and his wife, Jean, 67, were their son, George W. Brumley III, 42; his wife, Julia Preston Brumley, 42; their son, George W. Brumley IV, 14; and daughter, Jordan McNeill Brumley, 12; and George and Jean Brumley's daughter, Elizabeth Brumley Love, 41; her husband, William Jenkins Love, 41; and their daughter, Sarah, 12, as well as the three Morrells and two pilots.

During the service Saturday, Keith Love choked with tears as he remembered his brother, William Jenkins Love, his sister-in-law and their daughter, Sarah.

Speaking of Sarah, he said, the words that come to mind are "sensitive, caring, bright, funny, athletic and musical."

"She had inherited her parents' sense of humor and loved to tell a joke. Every time I saw her, she had a new joke," Keith Love said.

"Beth had an amazing ability to make everyone around her feel special and loved," he said. "When she hugged you it was like you were the only person in the world she cared about at that moment."

"Bill was always the first to introduce himself and the last to leave a party," Keith Love said. "He never wanted to miss anything. He was fun and he was funny and when you got Bill going, it was a great treat."

Richter, who spoke last, said Caroline and Rebecca's parents "did everything they wanted to do with great enthusiasm."

Then, sharing Caroline and Rebecca's memories, Richter said, "About their brother, Alex, Caroline wanted you to know he was always fun to play with and always included everyone," Richter said. "She also wanted you to know he liked rollerblading and played soccer . . . . Of her mother, Caroline said: 'She always helps us with homework if we're having problems.'"

Finally, Richter said Caroline asked her to share one final thought: "Whenever we were hurt or sad, they would be there for us. I miss them all. I've cried at least once a day."