Public goodbye for victims in NW Harris Co. mass killing

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An emotional funeral service was held Monday afternoon for the family of eight massacred in their northwest Harris County home earlier this month.

PHOTOS: Scene where 6 children and 2 adults were found dead

Investigators say Dwayne Jackson was the first person David Conley killed in his rampage. Jackson's family was here for the goodbye his baby brother says they never fathomed.

"My mom, who is 79 years old, you have to understand the position she's in having to bury a child, a child that has been...he didn't get sick and die," Eric Jackson said. "He was murdered."

Murdered along with his five children, Dwayne Jr., Honesty, Jonah, Trinity, and Caleb, his wife Valerie, and her son Nathaniel Conley. Eric Jackson described his brother as a man who loved God, and his kids.

"This planet could not hold the love he had for his kids."

Hundreds filled the seats for the funeral. Many of them knew the children. Angela Alvarez's daughter was friends with Nathaniel Conley.

"It's very close to home. All the kids went to school together. Most of them have been to school since kindergarten, all their elementary years, and now middle school. So yeah, it's pretty difficult," Alvarez said.

Phillip Beavers Jr. played football with Nathaniel, the aspiring NFL athlete.

"He never messed with anybody. He never showed any problems. He was a good kid, a good football player."

But many of the people here today never knew them until tragedy struck.

"My heart goes out to the mother of this daughter, not only losing her daughter, but losing her six grandbabies," said Minister Mattie Steward. "It's real touching to me because I'm a mother and a grandmother."

As the bodies make their way to Minnesota to be buried, Dwayne Jackson's family says there's only one way to get through this.

"A lot of prayer," Eric Jackson explained.

The owner of Allen Dave Funeral Home says he's used his own money to cover the expenses for the funeral so far. Follow this link to help offset some of those costs.

David Conley is facing capital murder charges for the killings.

Natalie Conley, the surviving sibling, released the following statement for the funeral: