Fort Jackson held a memorial for Sgt. 1st Class Lori MacFarland May 12 at Magruder Chapel. During the service, Sgt. 1st Class Faiza Evans spoke about her friendship with MacFarland. 'She had one of the biggest hearts of anyone I have ever known,' sai...

Looking back, Lt. Col. Yvette Brown, commander of 120th Adjutant General Battalion, said having Sgt. 1st Class Lori MacFarland on her team was a blessing in disguise.

"Lori's ability to switch from drill sergeant to nurse made her one of a kind and she embraced both roles," said Brown. "Her medical skills allowed her to care for her trainees with a little more passion and equally the drill sergeant in her never let her trainees wallow in self pity or give up their pursuit in becoming a United States Soldier."

The Fort Jackson community took time to remember MacFarland during her memorial at Magruder Chapel May 12.

MacFarland joined the Army in November of 2003 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort

Leonard Wood, Missouri followed by Health Care Specialist Advanced Individual Training at

Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

She passed away April 15.

"Today we bid farewell to an exceptional Soldier, mother, sister, aunt, colleague and friend," said Brown during the service.

Before moving to the 120th Adjutant General Battalion's Fitness Training Company, MacFarland spent 18 months as a drill sergeant with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment.

It was at 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Battalion where Sgt. 1st Class Faiza Evans met MacFarland.

"She had one of the biggest hearts of anyone I have ever known," said Evans.

MacFarland is survived by her four children Aliyah Alzadjali, Gerardo Escamilla, Johnnie Avery and Eva MacFarland.

Capt. Brian Kreisel, FTC commander, said that MacFarland had a positive influence on everyone.

"She was a warrior at her core and then she became a Soldier," he said.