TRIBUTES are being paid to a 15-year-old girl who died suddenly over the weekend.
Kenadie Porter passed away suddenly in her sleep during the weekend, and has been described as “an amazing young lady”.
Her community was left shocked over the death of the Year 12 student.
The student at Dromore High School is being remembered as a “model pupil”.
Her local church, Christ Encounters Tabernacle issued a statement, giving their sympathy to her family.
In a message posted on social media, the church said: “This is Kenadie Porter, a young girl of 15yrs of age, the beloved daughter of Craig and Nicki and big sister to wee brother Hudson.
“Their loss is so great and their pain is unfathomable. Please keep this family in prayer that they might know the comfort only The Holy Spirit can bring.
“Kenadie went to sleep as usual and didn’t waken again in this life. Kenadie was a beautiful, bright, thoughtful, caring, and helpful girl who was always a massive encouragement every Sunday morning to the leaders and to the children in CET children’s church, she was always a bright and shining light in the CET Lighthouse children’s ministry on a Friday evening also.
“Kenadie’s smile was infectious, her joy was refreshing but her love for God was real. Kenadie had a strong Christian faith and her testimony stood as a witness to us all of Christ’s sovereign, amazing and enduring grace in and upon her life.”
The Board of Governors, staff and pupils of Kenadie’s school said: “The Dromore High School family is shocked and desperately saddened to acknowledge the sudden death of year 12 pupil Kenadie Porter over this weekend.
“Kenadie was a quiet and unassuming pupil, and because of her humble manner one could be forgiven for missing her outstanding qualities. However, her friends and staff, especially those who taught her, respected her greatly and are acutely aware of the levels of excellence she strived for and regularly achieved in almost every area of school life.
“Her attendance was excellent, her attitude to her studies was excellent, her academic achievements were excellent and her relationships with staff and pupils demonstrated an endearing personality and exemplary manners.
“In many ways she was the model Dromore High pupil. Kenadie received achievement points regularly, won internal awards for high achievements and was frequently ‘pupil of the month’ for her House Group, attending Speech night last year to collect her awards.
“In her interactions with pupils and staff she displayed a genuine kindness to everyone she encountered. It is no surprise that she was very involved in the children’s work of her local church.
“Alongside her academic studies, Kenadie’s sporting interests lay in playing netball and throughout her four years in Dromore High she enjoyed the company of her group of good, close friends. Although Kenadie was quiet, she had a sparkle about her and a glint of fun in her eye. Her excitement at the forthcoming History trip to Poland and Germany for which she had queued early and enthusiastically to secure a place was obvious.
“Kenadie had a strong personal faith in Jesus which undoubtedly influenced how she lived her life and her attitudes to others and for which she will be very fondly remembered by her friends, House group and the wider school family. We entrust her to her Lord’s keeping now.”
Many locals left messages of condolence on social media since her passing was announced.
One person said: “Another beautiful soul gone before her time”.
Another said: “Please pray for this family torn apart with grief.”
Someone else said: “Terrible news. There really just are no words. Remembering the whole Porter family”.
DUP Cllr for Dromore DEA, Alderman Paul Rankin, said: “Deepest sympathies to the family of this young lady. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.”