ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — Students from C.J. Hick's Elementary School are reacting to the death of their coach, Candace McGriff.
Channel 2's Liz Artz spoke to several students and a parent volunteer Sunday as they prepared to go back to school from winter break and after McGriff's death.
Lexas Henderson told Artz that she can't remember a time when she hadn't known McGriff.
Henderson, a fifth-grader, started at the school as a kindergartner. McGriff is the only physical education teacher she's known.
Artz talked to the 11-year-old with Lexas' mother by her side. Lexas called McGriff loving and caring.
"She was sweet, she was loving and caring," Lexas said.
Principal Nadine Campbell sent a robocall message to all parents, faculty and staff.
"Our beloved P.E. teacher, Coach McGriff, died on Tuesday this week," the message said.
DeKalb County police on Friday charged McGriff's fiancé, Antoine Hood, 30, with felony murder.
Investigators said he shot and killed the 28-year-old teacher Tuesday and claimed that she committed suicide.
Hood told police she killed herself to keep him from leaving her.
In the robocall message, Campbell praised McGriff.
"She was a wonderful teacher loved by all of her students, and we will miss her greatly," the message said.
The message also encouraged parents to talk to their children about the incident.
Nicalle Harris was one of those parents. She told Artz she had a conversation with her son, who is now in middle school but was coached by McGriff for several years.
She said she gave him as many details as possible. He told Artz that McGriff was his favorite teacher.
"It's going to be very hard on some of the kids that have known her as long as I've known her," Lexas said.
Lexas was supposed to have physical education three days this week. She's not sure what will happen now, but she's holding tight to memories.
She told Artz about a moment that she shared with McGriff at the beginning of the school year.
"I just hugged her and I said, 'I love you, Coach McGriff,' and she said, 'I love you too, Lexas,"" Lexas said.
Artz spoke to McGriff's mother over the phone on Sunday. She said she had tried to get her daughter to leave Hood many times. She felt as though her daughter was finally ready to leave.
Hood is in the DeKalb County Jail facing a felony murder charge.