FRANKLIN—A North Carolina couple whose youngest of five children drowned on March 20 — one day before his fourth birthday — will remember Xander during the annual candlelighting memorial service sponsored by the Bereaved Parents Group of The Children’s Center.

The public is invited to join Steve and Christie Evans of Gates, who will be joined by others dealing with similar losses.

Understanding the difficulty of missing a child when all seem to be celebrating the holidays, the support group will host the 2 p.m. service on Sunday, Dec. 12, in conjunction with a worldwide candlelighting ceremony, according to Jeff Zeigler, community relations coordinator for The Children’s Center in Franklin. It will be held at Paul D. Camp Community College Workforce Development Center, 100 N. College Drive, Franklin.

“The event is a celebration of children who blessed this world,” Zeigler said. “It is a tribute of tears and laughter. It is an opportunity to say the name of a child, who must not be forgotten. “

“It’s like going to see your family, wanting to meet people, wanting to learn something, wanting to honor Xander. He did what he came to do on this earth,” Steve Evans added. Xander’s favorite saying, “I love you mostest, muchest,” will warm many hearts this weekend as a candle glows.

Xander was playing hide and seek with his brothers and sisters the day he died. Xander somehow slipped away from the family and drowned in a pond, despite his ability to swim.

In addition to his parents, Xander is survived by siblings Kayleigh, 19; Jenna, 17; Tristan, 13; and McKenna, 9.

For more information on the service or the monthly support group, contact Rosalind Cutchins at the Children’s Center at 562-6806 or Tricia Phelps at 562-7078.