Mourners gather to pay respect to the late Bill Gwatney and his family at a public visitation Sunday afternoon in North Little Rock.

The visitation for the slain Democratic party chair was from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. A 2nd gathering was scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A big crowd moved through Sunday afternoon, to support the Gwatney family through a devastating time.

Another day of grieving the tragic death of state democratic party chairman Bill Gwatney Sunday.

Friends and mourners file into Griffin-Leggett Funeral Home for first of two public visitations for the businessman and former state senator.

(John Riggs, Friend) "It's like anything else. You go through a natural grieving process. I was shocked. I was sad. I was angry."

Riggs recalls his friends straight forward approach to everything from golf to legislating, and says Gwatney did everything with dedication and high energy.

(Riggs) "He only had one speed, and that was straight ahead. If there was something he thought was wrong, he was out to change it no matter what."

Known affectionately to friends as "Gwatzilla," Riggs says he keeps thinking about the last time he talked to Gwatney, a couple of weeks ago.

(Riggs) "He said, Riggs, I just miss seeing you. I said, "Gwatzilla," I miss seeing you. We go to get out and do something together."

They never got that chance, but now Riggs says he's committed to focusing on his friend's legacy.

(Riggs) "That's going to be the most important thing - to keep his memory alive, the things he believed in and he was about. For us that are left, that's what we've got to do."

As a reminder, Bill Gwatney's funeral service will be held Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Pulaski Heights United Methodist  Church at 4823 Woodlawn Avenue, in Little Rock.

The service is expected to be well-attended, with accommodations for an overflow crowd. Also for those who cannot attend in person, the service will be streamed live on katv.com beginning at 2:00 p.m.