Sandra Bland funeral: Friends, family gather near Chicago

LISLE, IL -- Friends and family gathered to honor Sandra Bland's life near Chicago Saturday morning.

Funeral services were held at her hometown church, DuPage African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lisle, Illinois.

Bland spent countless hours involved in Sunday school in the women's ministry.

Visitors started arriving for the service to honor the woman who died of an apparent suicide in the Waller County Jail. Two inmates, Alexandra Pyle and another inmate accused of a DWI, recently spoke exclusively to ABC-13 about what they observed prior to Bland's death and what happened after. Bland's family disputes the suicide ruling in her death.

A minister who was close to Bland said that the service was a celebration of Bland's life and her fearless, outspoken nature. They sang Bland's favorite songs and prayed for her family.

Carl Pace, a funeral attendee, said, "I thought it was important for me to be here because I felt the pain of many across the country about what happened because it was just so wrong and I wanted to pay my respects to the family by attending, and of course, saying goodbye to Miss Bland. I didn't know her personally, but again, I feel the pain of so many across this country about the situation because it was so needless."

The wake in Lisle started at 9 a.m., which was followed by the funeral at 11 a.m.

Family and friends who met at Bland's alma mater, Willowbrook High School, passed out T-shirts featuring the words #SandySpeaks that Bland used in her online videos in which she encouraged people to speak up. Bland's friends wore the shirts in her memory.

Bland will be laid to rest in her hometown of Naperville, Illinois.