New Orleans, La.-- Family and friends of a St. Bernard Parish woman killed Sunday night in Metairie said their final good-byes during a funeral service Saturday.
Lu Cretia Hampton was struck and killed on I-10 after trying to flee from an abusive boyfriend.
For Hampton's daughter, the pain is almost un-bearable. "I want my momma," the little girl cried Saturday morning.
Hampton's friends and family say they still can't believe how she lost her life Sunday night.
Hampton was trying to run away from her boyfriend, who allegedly began beating her inside of her car as she was driving. She pulled over and began running down the interstate looking for help when she was hit by two different vehicles.
State police arrested her boyfriend, George Cummings, and charged him with manslaughter and second degree battery.
Hampton's friend, Tameka Estem, commented, "It was cruel. It was not called for. That's why today you got to watch who you date and know about your history and all that. And, there's no way you could do a human being like that. She didn't deserve it."
But today, Hampton's family chose to focus on the way she lived her life, not how it ended.
Hampton's mother in law said, "Quita loved her children. She loved the ground they walk and that day, I'm surprised none of them were with her. Everywhere Quita went, the children went."
Hampton leaves behind six kids, ranging from age 7 to 17.
Jennifer Jones never knew Lu Cretia Hampton, but saw a news story about what happened to her. It reminded Jones of her own abusive past, so she started collecting donations that she passed on to the Hampton family at the funeral.
"I just don't want people to lose sight of what the real mission here is, and it's to help those kids that are not going to have their mother anymore," Jones said.
Hampton's family says they're overwhelmed by Jones' kindness. "That was a beautiful thing she could've did. For real and when I heard it on the news when she first got on, it touched my heart. I had to cry," Hampton's mother-in-law said.
Both the family and Jones hope some good will come out of this tragedy. "I'm just hoping that anybody that is in the same situation can learn from Lu Cretia's story. Let's turn this really sad day into your inspiration to be able to move out whatever troublesome situations that you're going through," Jones said.
Hopefully this can prevent a similar situation from happening again.
Lu Cretia Hampton
