Joann Hunter’s life changed forever Saturday night.

That night — before 10 p.m. — a family member of hers called to tell her her 18-year-old daughter Alexis Hunter was shot dead.

Joann said the day leading up to her daughter’s death, which she described as a perfect day of Alexis helping her clean around the house, quickly turned into a horrific night she will never forget.

“My whole world died, because she was my only daughter and she was my baby child,” Joann said. “I don’t know how I am going to go on without her.”

The news of the Selma High School student’s death has shocked and saddened Alexis’ family, friends and former teachers. Although Alexis lived a short life, she left an impression with people that will last a lifetime.

Joann described her daughter, who aspired to be a hairdresser with her own beauty shop, as a sweet, caring and giving person who everyone loved to be around.

“She would make sure that others had before she had,” Joann said.

Alexis was dedicated to a multitude of organizations at Selma High School and outside of the school that allowed her to display her generosity.

She was in the school, Future Business Leaders of America, Health Occupation Students of America. She was a Girl Scout member and a Selma Saint Angel.

For her homeroom teacher, Alexis was an uplifting spirit.

Farrior said she would miss her smile and morning greetings the most.

“She was a well-rounded, pleasant person to see in the morning to kind of make it great for the rest of the day,” she said. “She’s going to really be missed.”

Farrior said Alexis earned a lot of close friends, including Kamaya Moore, a friend since middle school. Moore said she would miss the conversations she had with her dear friend.

“I’ll miss the way we talked to each other and the way she gave good advice,” Moore said.

Breunnia Keonshay, Alexis’ cousin, said she had a vibrant personality that will be missed.

“I think I’ll miss her good spirit and laughter,” Keonshay said. “My favorite memory is when we all stayed in one hotel room together at the family reunion, where we laughed and then walked to Waffle House in the middle of the night.”

Joann said it’s hard to accept the fact her daughter is truly gone. She said that although it will be tough to get through things, she has been comforted by the many condolences she has received, including from Selma Mayor George Evans, since her daughter’s death.

“It makes you feel good to know somebody really cares about you and is really concerned about you,” Joann said.” It lets you know somebody cares.”

Joann said she hopes people can in someway learn from her family’s tragedy.

“Parents need to know what their children are doing all the time,” she said. “These guns need to stop being so easy to get for these young kids.”

A candlelight vigil in memory of Alexis will be held at the Selma High School tennis courts Tuesday at 5 p.m.