1200 mourners that came out to pay their respects Uber driver a JW found dead

[Bible Speaks]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WCNC) - Family and friends say their final goodbyes to an Uber driver found dead in Rock Hill last week.  A memorial service for Marlo Medina-Chevez, 44, was held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Northeast Charlotte. The service moved to the Hubbard Road location since it is one of the biggest halls in the area.  However, it still could not accommodate the more than 1200 mourners that came out to pay their respects.

"Seeing all the support all the friends, family community coming together it's a little sweet with the bitterness," said Jose Moto, the brother of Medina-Chevez's son-in-law.

Mourners filled all the seats, stood in the back and crowded over-flow rooms.  Hundreds stood outside and listened to the Spanish and English service over a loud speaker.

"It is a really sad moment to get together in a location like this for such a great man," said Victor Cruz. 

Cruz says his friendship with Medina-Chevez spans at least 20 years.  He delivered the discourse, an outlined set of remarks that is customary in Jehovah's Witnesses funeral services. Cruz says this was one of the more challenging funeral discourses he has ever had to deliver. "When you know the person it is tough, because you don't want to lose your composure," he said.

Medina-Chevez disappeared May 20th after leaving his Steele Creek home to pick up passengers for an Uber ride. Family says he began driving Uber part-time in December to earn extra cash to pay for a family vacation.

"He was very loved and everyone cared for him still can't believe he's gone very nice guy, very loving, all about family," Moto declared.

Medina-Chevez and his wife Elsa met in 1989 when the two were in middle school.  The couple has three daughters who mobilized to find Medina-Chevez when he went missing.  They passed out flyers and drove all over Charlotte looking for him.  CMPD also launched an intense search effort, assigning missing persons and homicide detectives to the case.  Their investigation led them to Annapolis, MD where they said Medina-Chevez's credit card was used.   Maryland State Troopers tracked down his Nissan Pathfinder and took two of the occupants into custody. Five days after he disappeared, Medina-Chevez's body was found in a wooded area in Rock Hill.   Diontray Divan Adams and James Aaron Steven are both charged with his murder."This wasn't the outcome we would've wished for, now knowing we can move forward and always have him in our memories," said Moto.  "We're going to miss him a lot," he declared.

A Free Funder page has been set up for his family.  It has raised more than $40,000, which includes a $10,000 donation from Uber's East Coast General Manager  Meghan Joyce.  If you would like to help the Medina family, you can donate https://www.freefunder.com/campaign/help-the-medina-family