CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (7News) — As people bowed their heads and wiped their tears, the sounds of song and prayer filled South Potomac Church in White Plains Sunday night.

A few dozen southern Maryland community members came to mourn the lives lost in the D.C. plane helicopter crash on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Many of the churchgoers knew a handful of the victims, and even those who didn't came to pray and mourn together.

"We are going to pray," Cindy Barnes said. Barnes organized the vigil service. She said she felt compelled to do something in the wake of the tragedy.

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McKenzie Taylor also attended the service. She was a friend of Andrew Eaves, one of three army soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter. Eaves served in the U.S. Navy from August 2007 to September 2017 before transitioning to a UH-60 pilot in the regular Army. His commendations include three Army Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals, and numerous other service awards.

"He was just a joy," Taylor said. "He was always very kind. He was very happy. He was a really selfless person."

Taylor held in her tears as best she could, grieving the loss of a good man.

"He always was the first person to help. He was always there. It didn’t matter what you needed, what time of day," Taylor shared.

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John Micklus also attended Sunday night's vigil. He knew Mikey Stovall, one of the hunters from southern Maryland returning home after a group hiking trip in Kansas.

Micklus reminisced on his memories of Stovall as a young boy.

"You know Mikey Mikey was always smiling," Micklus said. "It’s like his mom said, he always smiled. No matter what was going on. When he was eight years old, he’d be off to the side by himself with a soccer ball, kicking it, just smiling and having a good time."

Amid the hurt and the confusion, the community relies on faith to get through the toughest of times.

"I do believe that God is still in control and that he is still on the throne," Barnes said. "I don’t understand why, but it’s not my place to understand why."

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Barnes said there's strength and support in numbers.

Taylor, meanwhile, hopes others will remember a strength or two from her good friend Andrew.

"His compassion and grace," Taylor said. "He was always willing to take in a stray animal, a child, help a stranger in need, and give the shirt off his back. I think that we can all learn a lot from that."