There were many welled-up eyes and no empty seats in the sanctuary at Highland Park United Methodist Church on Thursday afternoon.

A memorial service was held for Highland Park resident John Rodman Steele on July 19, which attracted such a large crowd that Highland Park UMC had to direct attendees to watch the service from a video screen in the church's Fellowship Hall, which also completely filled up.

Family, friends and members of the community gathered at the church for an emotional memorial service, which honored Steele's life through prayer, reflection and songs. Steele, who was 50 years old, passed away on July 11, taking the local community by surprise. Autopsy and toxicology reports, which may address contributors to Steele's death, are currently pending.

"The death of someone we love is never easy, and Rod's death has been particularly difficult," said HPUMC Rev. Walt Marcum, during the service's opening statements. "We gather today in disbelief and in shock. We don't understand it.

"How can something like this happen to someone that we knew so well and someone that we loved?" Marcum said. "It seems impossible to comprehend what happened that night a week ago. It is literally beyond comprehension."

At the beginning of the service, Kate Miner, who is the music director at Munger Place Church, played the song "Hung the Moon" on acoustic guitar. Later, John's friends and family members, including his younger brother Kelly Steele, spoke words of remembrance about John's life.

"What led to those events may have been caused by my brother's body, but they were not caused by his heart," Kelly Steele said, while holding back tears.

"If I needed him, he was always there," Kelly said, explaining how John grew up in Midland with their mom while he lived with their dad in Huntsville as a child. "He was my friend, my brother and sometimes my father."

Throughout the service, John was described as caring, compassionate and always willing to give back to the community, which was shown through his involvement at Highland Park UMC, having taught Sunday school, Bible study and Confirmation classes. Many of the people who spoke told stories about how he was always willing to help others and how his legacy has left a positive mark on the community, which will not be forgotten.

John is survived by his wife Dina, his two children, and his mother, who lives in Midland.