EL PASO, Texas (AP) When Jordan Ballard read that one of the victims of the El Paso massacre had few relatives and the public was invited to her funeral, the Los Angeles resident bought a plane ticket and flew to Texas to honor a woman she had never met.

She was one of hundreds of strangers who braved 100-degree (38 Celsius) heat to pay their respects to 63-year-old Margie Reckard. Feeling heartbroken and alone after her death, Reckards companion of 22 years, Antonio Basco, had welcomed anyone to attend.

I arrived here this morning, said Ballard, 38, who lived in New York City during the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His story moved me.

The service was moved from a funeral home to La Paz Faith Memorial & Spiritual Center to accommodate the crowd. Vocalists and musicians volunteered to help, including a mariachi band. Condolences and orders for flowers poured in.

He felt like he was going to kind of just be by himself with this whole thing but its not so, Perches Funeral Homes director Harrison Johnson said Thursday of Basco.