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DALLAS, N.C. -- Family and friends said their final goodbyes Thursday morning to 17-year-old Laura Fortenberry. The Gaston County teenager died Sunday in a head-on car crash being blamed on a habitual DWI offender.

Fortenberry just graduated from North Gaston High School and started college two days before she died.

While the service was emotional, the lead pastor at Venture Church expects the family to get a sense of purpose out of the tragic crash.

“I'm really anticipating the family to both grieve as you should, but to grieve with some purpose here,” the Rev. Austin Rammell said. “I've really sensed a strong desire for our society to learn from this."

Authorities say 28-year-old Howard Pasour, who has been arrested at least three other times for DWI, drove drunk and caused the accident on Dallas-Cherryville Highway. Pasour is charged with murder and is being held under a $4 million bond.

The message is clear with Fortenberry's friends and family.

"People drinking and driving is the dumbest thing I've ever head of," said Joseph Laye, a friend of the victim. "It's not right. I don't care if you just took a sip, you shouldn't be drinking and driving."

Fortenberry was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Mount Holly.