Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo, 10, is remembered as a little girl who always put a smile on everyone’s face. Her name is Heaven spelled backwards. As part of the Healing Uvalde Mural Project, Artist Brittany “Britt” Johnson painted Nevaeh’s mural, which includes a heart, two birds, a rose, and a handwritten note that reads “I love you.” It also incorporates some of her favorite things, like purple and pink, butterflies, softball, and the TikTok symbol. The mural reflects cascading curls flowing over Nevaeh’s shoulder, the way she loved to wear her hair.

Jacklyn “Jackie” Cazares, 9, was very proud of her new white dress as she showed it off in front of her family when celebrating her First Communion a week before she passed. She was a social butterfly who loved to be the center of attention. Her family remembers her as peaceful, loving, affectionate, and compassionate. She would go out of her way to help anyone and make anyone laugh, no matter how bad they felt. She is also remembered as someone who “didn’t like bullies; she didn’t like kids being picked on.” She loved to sing, make TikTok videos, and interact with friends on Snapchat. Her four dogs were her world. When artist Kimie Flores painted her mural as part of the Healing Uvalde Mural Project, she incorporated Jackie’s photo in her First Communion dress. Additionally, the mural reflects Jackie’s love of the Eiffel Tower; her bedroom was filled with images of the iconic monument, and she dreamed of traveling to Paris to visit it and experience French culture. Jackie had started a piggy bank to collect loose change for her trip to Paris one day. Her favorite color was sage green. Jackie dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.

Makenna Lee Elrod, 10, was beautiful, funny, intelligent, and amazing. She had a big heart and loved her family and friends. It was often said that her smile would light up the room. Makenna loved to play softball and gymnastics, dance and sing, play with fidgets, and spend time with her family. She was a member of the 4-H club and loved animals, including Bailey the dog, Porkchop the pig, Twitty the steer, and Dude the horse; all the animals lived on the family’s estate and were a big part of Makenna’s life. She looked forward to going to the ranch with her dad to feed animals and ride on the range. The Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation has set up a memorial scholarship honoring Makenna. She loved butterflies so much that they were released at her funeral. Makenna enjoyed writing notes to her family and leaving them in hidden places to be found later. She was a natural leader and loved school. Makenna’s favorite color was purple. She had recently started reading the Bible and often sang her favorite song, “The Lion and the Lamb”.

Jose Flores Jr., 10, was fondly known as Josecito and Baby Jose; he loved cars and sports, especially baseball. Jose was a Houston Astros fan and wore number 6 on the Uvalde Little League team. He was often described as always energetic, and he enjoyed video games. Family and friends say they will always remember his big heart, and that he was in a perpetual good mood and always said hello to everybody. His favorite foods included Takis Chips and Cheetos Flamin’ Hot. His favorite color was dark blue. When he grew up, Jose wanted to be a police officer to protect others. On the day of the shooting, he had just been honored for his academic work, earning a place on the honor roll.

Eliahna “Ellie” Amyah Garcia, 9, was very happy and outgoing; she loved dancing and playing sports. She had just won the basketball championship the previous Saturday. Artist Abel Ortiz, who painted her mural as part of the Healing Uvalde Mural Project, reflected Ellie’s love of basketball by showing her in her jersey—number 21, which she chose because it was her mother’s birthday—with the title “All Star.” Ortiz’s painting also incorporates her spirit, love of life, and love for Jesus. Eliahna wanted to be a cheerleader. She loved hot sauce, ramen noodles, dancing, and the Disney movie Encanto. Ellie was buried in a custom-made Encanto dress that the Walt Disney costume design team gifted to her family. The dress was in her favorite color, purple, covered with lilac flowers and cascading ruffles. Eliahna would light up everyone’s world with big smiles and big hugs. She came from a large family, the second oldest of five girls, and loved to spend time with her little sisters. She loved making videos and was already practicing a choreography with her older sister for her quinceañera party, even though it was still 5 years away. Her dream was to be a teacher.

Irma Linda Garcia, 48, was a dedicated mother, wife, and educator known for her love of family and pride for her children and students. Mrs. Garcia was married to her high school sweetheart, Jose Garcia. She loved menudo and joining her husband in barbequing and listening to music. Fishing from the pier with her husband and children was another of her favorite pastimes. She started teaching a year after she married and was nearing 23 years of teaching at Robb Elementary School, 5 of which she co-taught with Ms. Eva Mireles. She received numerous professional honors, including Teacher of the Year in 2019. Mrs. Garcia was known for inspiring her students to go to college, and she celebrated her students returning for the “senior walk” ahead of their graduations. Her spirit is embodied in a post she wrote on social media at the time: “Seeing them return to their elementary schools wearing their cap and gown . . . is the reason every teacher in this district does what they do,” Garcia wrote. “That moment makes all the struggles, long hours, and endless paperwork so worth it.” Her husband, Jose Garcia, died 2 days after the shooting; they both are survived by 4 children, ranging from 12 to 23 years old.

Uziyah Sergio Garcia, 10, known to most as Uzi, was a loving, smart, sweet, and energetic child. Uzi loved his entire family and anything active such as running, gorilla tag, football, and swimming. He was known for being competitive but also fair and kind. Uzi had a deep love for Jesus, and whenever his family said, “I love you and Jesus loves you,” he would reply, “and Jesus loves you too!” He loved a Nutella sandwich with blue Takis, which he wanted to get others to try. He was silly, had a contagious laugh, and was known for his shaggy hair—but outside of his silliness, Uzi is remembered for his beautiful soul.

Amerie Jo Garza turned 10 years old 2 weeks before the Robb Elementary shooting. She had spent her morning celebrating her appointment to the honor roll on that last day of school and went back to her classroom to finish out the day before anticipating her mother picking her up to start the summer vacation. Amerie is remembered as an outgoing child and a student who enjoyed excelling in class, hoping one day to combine teaching with one of her favorite subjects, art. She loved colored pencils and paint (especially the color purple), playing with clay, and wanting people to have fun. Amerie is described as having been the light in the room with the brightest attitude. She was confident and not afraid to be different, doing things that she liked regardless of others’ opinions. A “daddy’s girl,” she also loved making things for her parents and brothers.

Xavier James Lopez, 10, was known as a fun-loving young man who, whether in school or at home, was always wearing a bright smile. And as a 4th grader, he never took things too seriously, often finding time to cheer up anyone who needed it. Still, he was excited about his recent academic achievement, proudly accepting his honor roll certificate. According to his family, “he really couldn’t wait to go to middle school.” Xavier enjoyed having fun with his friends, especially his classmate Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, and summertime activities like swimming and playing little league baseball. He learned at the age of 7 to make his father’s favorite food, hot salsa. Xavier would sell his salsa to family and friends and use the money to buy toys for his little brothers. His outgoing and fun-loving nature was on display as he carried out pranks and joined in the South Texan partner dance, cumbia. He is fondly remembered as a boy with “lots of energy.”

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, a 10-year-old 4th grader, loved attending school as much as he loved his family. He lived with his mother and grandparents, for whom it was Jayce’s custom to get up in the morning and make a pot of coffee before heading to school. He regularly expressed his strong ties to family and community through the special love notes he wrote to his family and the open invitation he extended to the neighborhood friends and classmates who were welcomed frequently at his family’s home. With an endearing personality and the ability to communicate effectively, Jayce was always surrounded by friends with whom he enjoyed playing outdoor games and simply doing fun things. And there were always plenty of refreshments for everyone! His smile was infectious, and he always enjoyed making others laugh. Jayce loved his dog, Fifi, and his favorite hobbies included dinosaurs, ninjas, and coloring pictures.

Tess Marie Mata loved her family dearly, as well as her cat, Oliver. Like many 10-year-olds, she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her older sibling. She even started saving for college because she wanted to attend the same school as her big sister, Texas State University, where she is now an honorary Bobcat. To honor her life, the Tess Marie Mata Scholarship will be established to help students follow the fifth grader’s dream to study the health sciences. Tess also saved money for a family vacation to Disney World. She loved the Nickelodeon show Victorious, and as an avid softball player, she enjoyed following her favorite baseball team, the Houston Astros. She played the same position as the Astros’ Jose Altuve and cheered loudly for him whenever he came up to bat. Tess, known to others as “Tessy,” had a love for TikTok videos and dreamed of one day going viral on the social media platform. Her TikTok dance video “My Sweet Baby Girl” has more than 200,000 views. Tess was athletic and loved sports. She also loved fancy dresses and pretty jewelry and will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and signature peace gesture.

Maranda Mathis, who turned 11 years old about 2 weeks before the Robb Elementary shooting, had a huge, loving heart. She was a sweet, smart, and shy young lady who enjoyed being in nature and spending time outdoors, where she collected things like rocks, shells, and feathers. Those who knew Maranda remember her great imagination and her expressed love for unicorns and mermaids, especially if they were her favorite color, purple. Maranda was fun, spunky, and very smart. Her family describes her as “sweet, smart, and a shy tomboy who enjoyed being in nature and the outdoors.” She made a similar impact on her peers: one of her schoolmates added that “she had manners and was a bright girl.” Maranda was known for her sweet personality, cute smile, and kind eyes; beyond these, it was her loving heart that endeared her to friends and classmates. She enjoyed spending time with her younger brother, playing Roblox on her tablet, and eating her favorite foods: pizza, tacos, and boneless wings. She had a special love for animals, too. Although at times she was shy and quiet, she did not hesitate to demonstrate her love for family and friends through heartfelt expressions and acts of kindness, for which she will always be remembered. To all of her family and friends, Maranda was loving, kind, bright, and a genuine sweetheart.

Eva Mireles, 44, was a committed mother, wife, and educator known for her cheerful and active nature. Ms. Mireles had a love for CrossFit, hiking, and spending time with her family. She was known for combining her two passions by getting up before the sunrise to go for hikes during family gatherings. She lived her life to the fullest, with her daughter recalling memories of singing karaoke and re-enacting TikToks together. She was an educator for 17 years, specializing in special education; just a couple of years ago, she helped integrate children with developmental disabilities into regular classrooms in the Uvalde area. As one parent fondly remembered, Ms. Mireles “was a beautiful person and dedicated teacher [who] went above and beyond.” Ms. Mireles co-taught 4th grade at Robb Elementary with Mrs. Garcia for 5 years. Ms. Mireles is survived by her husband and her daughter, who recently graduated college.

Alithia Haven Ramirez, 10, was a bright, talented, reliable, and extremely loving young lady who dreamed of attending art school in Paris. Her family and friends remember her as trustworthy, always wanting to care for everyone, and serving as a role model to her siblings. She also loved to play soccer. Alithia loved the color purple, eating pizza, and playing with her two younger siblings, for whom she would create unique characters, often modeled on their favorite Nintendo games or anime. She wanted to go to Paris because that’s where famous artists are known to go. In January 2023, an exhibit of Alithia’s art was displayed in her dream destination by L’AiR Arts at Atelier 11. When Alithia was 8, her best friend who shared a love of soccer and drawing sketches was struck and killed by a car. It was devastating, but little Alithia became a surprising source of strength and comfort for her best friend’s family. A drawing Alithia sent to console her best friend’s parents showed him sketching her portrait in heaven while she drew him on earth, revealing a kindness far beyond her years. Actor and Uvalde native Matthew McConaughey displayed this drawing when he was speaking at the White House. “I want the world to see my art and show the world what I can do; I want people to be happy when they see my passion in art,” Alithia wrote when she submitted her artwork for a Google Doodle contest. Google honored Alithia by spotlighting her work on the Google Doodle. The Beeville Art Museum (https://www.bamtexas.org/) (BAM) hosted an exhibition of select pieces by Alithia in 2022 entitled “Eyes on the World,” which included 48 pieces highlighting her signature style of incorporating large inquiring eyes.

Known for her quiet demeanor, 10-year-old Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez came from a close-knit family whom she loved dearly, always enjoying the many exciting and fun-filled experiences they shared. Annabell was a sweet young girl who loved the color blue, especially blue butterflies. She also enjoyed watching TikTok and spending quality time with her sisters and family. She was especially close to her cousin, Jackie Cazares, and her dear friend and 4th grade classmate, Xavier James Lopez. Their families arranged frequent cookouts together so the children could spend more time together, often playing tag. Annabell proudly wore a picture of Xavier around her neck at school and when attending his little league baseball games. She was also entrepreneurial, running a snow cone machine along with her family, who sold hot dogs. Annabell was conscientious and worked hard in school, earning a place on the honor roll. She rose each morning to first thank God for another day and would spend her evenings painting her grandmother’s nails and braiding her hair. These acts of humility, kindness, and compassion reflected Annabell’s strong values and underscored her remarkable character.

Maite Yuleana Rodriguez was just 10 years old when she was killed at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. Maite’s mother said she wanted everyone to know that Maite was “sweet, charismatic, loving, caring, loyal, free, ambitious, funny, silly, goal driven,” and her best friend. “She was determined, focused and competitive. She was smart, bright, beautiful, and happy.” Maite was an AB honor student who had high aspirations of doing good in the world, with plans to attend Texas A&M University to become a marine biologist. Maite loved anime, especially Attack on Titan, and all kinds of animals, like dogs, but mostly marine animals like dolphins. She enjoyed Whataburger burgers with jalapeños. Maite was known to be giving, intelligent, and charismatic, as well as courageous. Her bravery was clear: classmates reported that, faced with danger, Maite lost her life telling her classmates where to hide. She will be remembered by her green Converse sneakers, which she decorated with a heart, and by a scholarship named in her honor at Texas A&M in Corpus Christi. Maite is now officially an Islander.

Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio, 10, was an athlete who loved her family and school. Lexi was a fierce, intelligent girl who had dreams of earning a softball scholarship, majoring in math, and eventually becoming a lawyer. Lexi enjoyed practicing softball and basketball with her father and would practice on her own while he was at work. She was an impassioned debater who loved fishing with her dad, reciting jokes with her mom to see who would laugh first, baking with her great-grandmother, and hanging out with her five siblings. Her siblings fondly remember her love of the “Lexi burger”—a plain and dry McDonald’s cheeseburger topped with fries and chicken nuggets, which McDonald’s released as a special remembrance on her birthday. She had a love of bright colors, which reflected her bright personality inside and out.

Layla Marie Salazar, 11, grew to love singing so much that she sang every day on the way to and from school with her parents. Layla also enjoyed dancing and adored koala bears. She was smart, quick-witted, and full of an energy evidenced by all of the activities she engaged in, including swimming. Running track, though, was her favorite—her passion. At 11 years old, Layla had never lost a race, taking home 6 first-place ribbons on Field Day. Layla also made TikToks and other videos singing along to her favorite songs. She was a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Her family describes Layla as a super special child who was social and welcoming, and who was always respectful and helpful to family and friends. She enjoyed time with her many close family members, including her brothers, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She had the gift of a loving family both nearby and in Illinois, where she was born. Her grandparents would pick Layla up from school and treat her to tacos, so she was known to ask her grandparents to pick her up often. Her family moved to Uvalde to be in a safer community, but now they have buried their loving 11-year-old child there.

Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10, was described as a big ray of sunshine with a big heart, especially with children younger than her. Jailah was a lovely little girl who enjoyed the outdoors, dancing, and making TikTok videos. Jailah was also a basketball player. She was very energetic and loved skateboarding, cycling, and playing with her cousins. Jailah and her cousin, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, were both just 10 years old when they were killed on May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary, lying next to each other.

Eliahna Cruz Torres, 10, was known to those closest to her as Elijah. Eliahna was described as a loving, nurturing, and compassionate child who always put others before herself. Family referred to her as “enfermerita,” the little nurse. Her grandfather recalls how she accompanied him on his prescribed walks after he had heart surgery, and Eliahna routinely made sure both her grandparents took their medications. She liked to be silly and loved making people laugh. She also loved TikTok videos. She was said to have the most beautiful smile. Eliahna was also an avid baseball player who loved the game and played on a local little league whose final game of the season was scheduled for the afternoon of the shooting. She was very excited for the game and hoped to make the All Stars. Eliahna’s father was only a week away from a visit with her at the time of her death. Eliahna was said to have made a big impact during her short life, and her family note that she “fulfilled her purpose.”

Rojelio Fernandez Torres, 10, was described by everyone who knew him as an intelligent, hardworking, and helpful person. Rojelio loved everybody and told his family he wanted to make a difference in the world. His teachers referred to him as a difference maker. Rojelio was very outgoing and loved life, showing this by always having a smile on his face and being willing to help wherever needed. He would help his mother with tasks and help his aunts, his teachers, and others. Rojelio was always wanting to do something and had many hobbies like playing Pokémon and video games. He was also very active and loved being outside with his brother and sisters, especially playing football.