Katy “Kacee” Griffin, the principal for First Baptist Christian’s lower school, died this week of complications due to her battle with cancer. Griffin was 49 years old.

First Baptist athletic director and English teacher Joe Cockrell, who has known Griffin since she started at the school, said the cancer was too aggressive and the treatments did not seem to slow its progression.

“She was the type of person that every time you saw her she had a smile on her face,” he said. “She was one of the most encouraging people to be around.”

Students and staff from First Baptist, along with other community members, had a prayer vigil Tuesday before Griffin’s passing at Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth, where Griffin was in the intensive care unit.

Funeral services were held Friday at Western Branch Community Church in Chesapeake.