INDIANAPOLIS — Blue, white and silver balloons filled the sky Sunday over Pa and Ma's Backyard BBQ on Indy's near northwest side.
Dozens and dozens of family, friends, customers and community members gathered to remember its owner, George Nelson Sr.
"This is the evidence of what he poured in to," said George's daughter, Brockelle Nelson. "This is his family. These are his patrons. These are his people."
Around 100 people gathered near 26th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, passing out hugs and sharing memories of the man they called "Big George."
"He died where he wanted to be at," said his son, George Nelson Jr.
According to IMPD, George Sr. was shot and killed outside his restaurant Wednesday night. He was 56-years-old.
"Since then, I've been kind of numb," Brockelle said. "It's a surreal experience for me, but my dad was a jokester. So I hear him in my head like, 'Girl, get your stuff together!'"
George Jr. said his father was a kind man.
"My daddy was the type of person that would give you the shirt of his back," George Jr. said, "even when we didn't have it."
His family said George Sr. opened Pa and Ma's with the hopes it would become a community institution for decades to come. His children now say they plan to take over the business.
"This is not just a restaurant," Brockelle said. "This is going to be a place for the community. For the community to benefit from and for the community to grow from."
"We won't stop," George Jr. said. "This is going to be his legacy. This is going to be my legacy."