ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- While "You Are My Sunshine" played quietly, more than 1,500 mourners filed past the casket of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, who vanished one week ago on her way home from her neighborhood school.

Purple flowers covered the top of Somer's wooden casket as mourners shook hands with family members seated in the front row. Several portraits of Somer were also on display, while scenes from her life were projected on two large screens.

At the request of investigators, the casket was closed at a viewing Monday evening at First Baptist Church of Orange Park. After what is expected to be a capacity crowd for a memorial service Tuesday morning, mourners plan to release thousands of purple balloons and line Kingsley Avenue and Blanding Boulevard during the procession to a private graveside service at Jacksonville Memory Gardens.

"I think Clay County is going to wrap their arms around this family as never has been done before," Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said Monday. "We really expect this is going to show the family how much the people in this community is hurting right now, how much they care about the family, how much they grieve for them and how much resolve we have to bring Somer's killers to justice."

The Thomases were the first in line at the church.

"We're here to see Somer, to say our goodbyes and just give our support for the mother," Jeanie Thomas said.

"I would say we don't know (Somer's mom) personally, but our heart knows her as a parent, and that's what tears our hearts out," Dickie Thomas said. "I was in tears on Friday just watching her cry, and then finding that baby in the trash just tears my heart out."

Like Thomas, many attending Monday evening's visitation did not know Somer, but were drawn to pay their respects because they were touched by the young girl's tragedy.

Dressed in Somer's favorite color of purple, White vowed to continue dressing in that color until the killer was caught.

"I'm going to miss her. She never met a stranger," she said.

Ashton Fuentes, 19, went to Grove Park when he was younger and still lives near the Thompson home.

"I'm just here to support the family," he said.

Law enforcement officials expect heavy traffic and delays around the church on Tuesday morning, and said roadblocks will be used on Kingsley Avenue and Blanding Boulevard during the procession to private a graveside service at Jacksonville Memory Gardens.

Clay County officials ask people not attending the service to avoid the area entirely between 12:15 and 1 p.m.

A man whose sign-making business is only blocks from where Somer disappeared is producing banners and posters is printing materials he will give to people who will line the streets for the processional.

"(Get) the message out there, you know, the justice for Somer message," said Babby Hartley of Banners and Signs Inc. "We want that plastered all over town, basically. We're hoping that during the funeral, they will have those banners displayed and hold them up along the roadsides and on the front of their businesses."

Investigation Continues

Somer's body was found on last Wednesday at the south Georgia landfill where Orange Park's garbage is dumped. Investigators will no say how she died, but Beseler called it a "heinous crime."

Investigators have received more than 1,500 tips but still don't know who killed the first-grader who disappeared while walking home from Grove Park Elementary School about 2:45 p.m. Oct. 19.

"There's someone out there who's killed a child, and he's still out there in our community," Beseler said. "He may not be right here in Orange Park, but they're still out in society. And I want that person off the street."

Beseler said 50 detectives have been on the streets asking questions to people in the community who may have any idea of what happened to Somer.

Beseler said those detectives would re-interview some people who have already been talked to, while also following hundreds of tips he said investigators haven't even looked into yet.

Investigators are also waiting for the results of their search of the Orange Park home last week where they said Somer was last seen.

"We are yet to even start receiving information back from the crime labs," Beseler said. "This is going to be a process. It's going to take time."

Monday morning, as part of a massive tribute of flowers, candles, cards and stuffed animals that had sprung up across the street from Thompson's home was moved to the church, people continued to bring more items dedicated to Somer's memory.

Officials said absenteeism at Grove Park Elementary School of 530 students has been more than double the days since Somer disappeared.

So far, no one has come forward to say they saw the girl abducted or attacked. Investigators have ruled out all 161 registered sex offenders who lived within a 5-mile radius of Somer's home.