'He always wanted to be a superhero': Six-year-old boy who was killed by teen gunman at school is laid to rest at emotional funeral

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A six-year-old boy who died after a teenage gunman opened fire at a South Carolina elementary school is being remembered on Wednesday as a superhero.

At the Hall family's request, mourners wore superhero costumes to celebrate Jacob, who is being laid to rest dressed as Batman.  

'We want to honor Jacob, celebrate Jacob, in a way he would love,' his great-aunt, Rebecca Hunnicutt, told the Anderson Independent-Mail.  'He always wanted to be a superhero.'

His funeral comes a week after authorities say 14-year-old Jessie Osborne killed his own father before driving a pickup to Townville Elementary School and crashing into a playground fence. 

Jacob, a classmate and a first-grade teacher were struck by bullets as they left for recess. That student and teacher were treated and released from a hospital later that day.

A bullet struck Jacob in a main artery in his thigh, and he was airlifted to a Greenville hospital, where he died on Saturday. 

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Dale Hall, dressed in a Superman outfit, stands before the casket during the funeral for his brother Jacob Hall on Wednesday

An emotional Renae Hall, dressed as Robin, reacts as her son is placed into a hearse after the funeral service on Wednesday. The six-year-old is being laid to rest dressed as Batman

A 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children, including Jacob (his mother, above) and a teacher as recess began

Friends support Jacob's mother Renae Hall (above) after an emotional funeral for the six-year-old, who died of his injuries on Saturday after being struck by a bullet in a main artery in his thigh

A six-year-old boy who died after a teenage gunman opened fire at a South Carolina elementary school will be remembered on Wednesday as a superhero. Above, Jacob's blue casket arrives for his funeral service

Video courtesy of WSPA 7News 

A fellow six-year-old, Lily Gunby, said Jacob 'was really sweet,' and 'knew a lot about Jesus.' 

She's sitting in the pews of Townville's Oakdale Baptist Church, wearing a pink and black Superman shirt in her friend's honor.

Lily's uncle Derek Gunby says Jacob was 'the cutest thing ever' at the church's Bible school.

The mourners also include some people who drove for hours to attend the funeral. 

John Buckland, the founder of Heroes 4 Higher, drove his Batmobile - which he calls the Hope-Mobile - from West Virginia.

Wearing full Batman garb, he gave the kids posters saying 'Tough things make me stronger' and delivered a eulogy for Jacob.

'Out of this community, the world is seeing how to do it right and the only reason you're able to do it right is because you've learned from the best and that's a six-year-old boy,' he said.

'We're not here to mourn, we're here to celebrate. My message to all of us here today is take what we've learned from Jacob , let it make you a better husband, a better father, a better brother, a better sister, a better everything.

'May a six-year-old boy become such a part of our lives that this community shows the rest of the world what hope is all about.' 

John Buckland, dressed as Batman, speaks during a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday

The Rev. David Blizzard delivered the eulogy for Jacob, saying he loved everybody, and would 'pretend he was a superhero'

Townville Fire Chief Billy McAdams wipes away tears before the funeral for six-year-old Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church

Mourners surround the casket of six-year-old Jacob Hall as it leaves Oakdale Baptist church in Townville, South Carolina

Jacob, a classmate and a first-grade teacher were struck by bullets as they left for recess last Wednesday. Above, people dressed as superheroes for Jacob's funeral

Jacob Hall's family have encouraged people to dress as superheroes to celebrate what he enjoyed. Above, a man dressed as Batman arrived at the funeral

A Batmobile arrives before a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall, a six-year-old boy who was killed in a school shooting last week

A sticker remember the Townville Elementary School shooting is affixed to the Heroes 4 Higher Batmobile

The Rev. David Blizzard delivered the eulogy for Jacob, saying he loved everybody, and would 'pretend he was a superhero.' 

Blizzard: 'He imagined himself being the good guy and sure enough, it's almost surreal to think what's happened. This little boy has spoken to us and said, 'I want you to love each other like Jesus loves us.''

He also referred to the nine people killed last year inside the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, North Carolina. He said their families forgave that shooter.

He said 'we have the same Jesus that Mother Emanuel had, and we can do the same thing if we choose to.'

'Why forgive? Because, he said, 'a superhero story is about good versus evil. The good always wins. We live in a dark world, but the good's going to win.'  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stickers decorated his blue casket with 'God's Super Hero' written inside. Superheroes in his floral spray included the Ninja turtles and Captain America. 

Townville Elementary school teachers are also in the church, wearing handmade blue capes with a Ninja Turtle face and Jacob's name on the back. 

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who wore a Batman pin, is pictured leaving the funeral for six-year-old Jacob Hall

A young boy dressed as Spider-Man watches as Jacob's casket leaves the church after the funeral service in Townville

Landen Gilbert, dressed as Batman, stands in line to enter Oakdale Baptist church for the funeral of his cousin Jacob

A young girl is hugged by a man dressed as Captain America at the superhero-themed funeral for six-year-old Jacob Hall 

A woman dressed as Thor speaks with a young girl ahead of the funeral service in Townville, South Carolina, on Wednesday

Men dressed as superheroes speak to a police officer outside the funeral for Jacob Hall on Wednesday

Jacob's funeral comes a week after authorities say 14-year-old  killed his own father before driving a pickup to Townville Elementary School and crashing into a playground fence. Above, people arrive for the service

Jacob Hall's family encouraged people to dress as superheroes to celebrate what he enjoyed. Above, people arrive in superhero-themed outfits for the funeral

Kortnie Lanclos, of Liberty, South Crolina, wears a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shell before the superhero-themed funeral

People packed the church on Tuesday evening for Jacob's visitation, many of them wearing superhero costumes and T-shirts. 

At the front, large posters showed Jacob as Superman and being held by Jesus.  

Supporters released hundreds of balloons on Sunday in his honor following a prayer service at Oakdale Baptist Church, where the funeral will be held in this small rural town near the Georgia border. 

Family members said Jacob told them he was out saving Townville as others slept.

'He loved anything to do with goodness,' Jacob's mother, Renae Hall, told WYFF. 

Tim Marcengill, Associate Pastor Evangelism and Education, speaks at funeral for Jacob Hall on Wednesday

John Buckman, dressed as Batman, hugs the aunt of Jacob Hall, Rebecca Hunnicut, after speaking during the funeral service

'He loved anything to do with being able to help somebody. That's why I say Jacob was going to make a difference and he still is going to make a difference.'

Students won't return to Townville Elementary until Thursday but the district's other five schools will honor Jacob by participating in Superhero Day. 

All employees and students were invited to come to school in costume, and any who want to attend the 11am funeral are excused, said District Superintendent Joanne Avery.

Townville teachers will take a bus to the funeral and wear superhero capes, she said. 

Jacob's mother Renae Hall, left, mother of Jacob Hall, hugs friendsKatie Olvera (left) dressed as Wonder Woman, Aaron Sloan (center), dressed as a Power Ranger, and John Suber (right) dressed as Superman at a wake service for Jacob on Tuesday

Jacob's mother Renae Hall, left, talks to Starr Henderson, 12, during a wake service at Oakdale Baptist Church on Tuesday

Jacob's (left) mother Renae Hall (right) hugs friends and family during a wake service for her son on Tuesday

Jacob's aunt Rebecca Hunnicutt (left) listens to U.S. Senator Jeff Duncan during a wake service in Townville on Tuesday

Zowie Sanders, gives a fist bump to John Suber, left, of Greenville, dressed as Superman, with her sister Lindsey Sanders, center, and their mother Brooke Starks, right, of Townville, during a wake service for Jacob Hall

A moment of silence was observed at 1.42pm district-wide, marking one week since the shooting.

According to a Facebook page created for Superhero Day, schools across the state planned to participate. 

But schools in central and coastal South Carolina were closed for the rest of the week because of the approach of Hurricane Matthew.

Osborne faces two murder charges in the deaths of his father Jeffrey and Jacob. He also is charged with three counts of attempted murder, as well as five counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. 

Starr Henderson, 12, of Belton, cries after seeing her nephew Jacob Hall during a wake service at Oakdale Baptist Church on Tuesday

The casket of six-year-old  Jacob Hall arrives for a wake service at Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville