Erika Kirk’s faith inspires staffer as Charlie Kirk memorial looms

GLENDALE, Ariz. — As a memorial service for Charlie Kirk is planned for Sunday in Glendale, organizers expect a turnout that could surpass typical crowd sizes for political events, with more than 100,000 people anticipated to attend the Turning Point USA founder’s memorial.

Separately, on Wednesday, students at the University of Alabama held a campus tribute to Kirk, reflecting on his faith-driven leadership. Speakers included former reality TV star Savannah Chrisley, conservative activist CJ Pearson, and political commentator Alexis Wilkins. Kieghan Nangle, 22, executive assistant to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and an Alabama alum, addressed Erika Kirk’s strength and the example she has set for young people. "If Erika [Kirk] could stand before the world with power and bravery just 48 hours after the love of her life and the father of her children were taken from her, then each of us can do our part to stand behind her and carry on Charlie's legacy," Nangle said.

Nangle said she was introduced to Turning Point USA in 2021 at the Young Women’s Leadership Summit in Dallas, noting that the organization helped her stand firm in her convictions. "Charlie and TPUSA taught me and my peers lessons that I believe if they weren’t taught, my generation's lives and our country would look very different today," she told Fox News Digital. "The organization taught me how to stand firm in my convictions."

TPUSA has said campus chapter requests surged by thousands after Kirk’s assassination, reflecting a rapid expansion of the student-led network. Nangle added that her time with the organization helped her see how campus engagement can translate into ongoing activism and faith-based service in daily life. "The organization was the outlet I didn’t know I needed during college," she said.

The Kirks married in May 2021 and have two children—a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.

Alongside tributes to Kirk, the events feed into broader conversations about faith’s place in public life. Fox News Digital has previously reported that many millennials and members of Generation Z are returning to church, reading Scripture and seeking greater spiritual depth as part of a broader cultural shift. These ceremonies, held across different campuses and communities, underscore how faith and political engagement have intertwined for supporters of Kirk and TPUSA.

Erika Kirk’s presence at the memorial cycle and the Alabama tribute underscores a narrative some supporters describe as a steadfast commitment to faith, family and country in the wake of tragedy. The two events—one in a major metropolitan setting and another on a university campus—illustrate how volunteers and leaders aim to channel their grief into community-building, education and civic participation.