Opelika Soldier’s Funeral Held Today

Specialist Adrian Avila was assigned to the Alabama Army National Guard in Fort Payne, Alabama.

Family and friends of Avila gathered at the Jeffcoat Trent Funeral Home today to say goodbye. Avila was described as a caring and loving person. Officials say he died from non-combat related injuries. His cousin I spoke with says it happened too soon.

“He really felt like he was getting his life turned around you know, he was trying to make something of himself, he really wanted to prove to everybody that he could do this, he wanted to show everybody he could do this,“ says Heather Lowery.

Avila’s burial is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at the Fort Benning Cemetary.