They came from all over to say goodbye to Sean Taylor at FIU's Pharmed Arena Monday afternoon.

But in the end, it was his family, his 18-month old daughter and his longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, who were the last ones to pay their final respects at a local cemetery and private burial.

''It was a beautiful service,'' said Anthony Leon Jr., Taylor's cousin and a redshirt freshman safety at Florida State, who rode in a fleet of limousines and SUVs that left FIU carrying family and close friends to bury Taylor's body Monday evening.

``It was good to get away, be with family and not have cameras in our face photographing us. . . I threw a rose in the grave and I told Sean I loved him. That's all I could get out.''

EMOTIONAL DAY

Before the private burial, relatives, friends, coaches and teammates eulogized the former Gulliver Prep, University of Miami and Washington Redskins football star, who was fatally shot in his home last week during an attempted robbery.

''It was an unbelievable day,'' said Gulliver assistant football coach Ron Butler, who said he was among 70 teachers, administrators and current and former Gulliver students to attend the funeral. ``To have people like Rev. [Jesse] Jackson, [former Redskins linebacker] LaVar Arrington and all those former Canes speak about Sean tells you how much he meant to so many people. So many people said so many great things about Sean.''

But the most moving and emotional speeches came from three family members: Taylor's 14-year-old sister, Jazmin Taylor; his uncle, Michael Outar; and the older sister of his girlfriend, 28-year-old Carolina Garcia.

MOVING MOMENTS

Each described Taylor as a loving brother, spectacular football star and an adoring father.

''Strength and determination are the words that best describe Sean,'' Jazmin Taylor told the crowd of more than 3,000 at FIU while fighting back tears. ``Sean was the best big brother anyone could have.

``The last time I talked to Sean was on Thanksgiving night. After a few words, he asked me why I was giggling. I said I don't know. Now, I realize I was so happy to hear his voice. All I want to see is his smile one more time. He had the best smile in the world and if you saw it, it would automatically make you smile.''

His uncle, Outar, said he will remember Taylor's enthusiasm for sports most. He shared stories about Taylor's first football game, the way he helped him put his pads on for the first time and how Taylor always dreamed of playing in the NFL.

He said the family always dreamed Taylor would one day reach the NFL Hall of Fame.

''Like most people I wanted him to be No. 32, No. 33, No. 34, play running back or quarterback and score all the touchdowns,'' Outar recalled of Taylor's first football team, the Homestead Hurricanes.

'Coach gave Sean No. 66 and put him on the line. Right before the game he looked at me said, `Uncle Michael, what do I do?' I told him, 'Hit the guy with the ball.' And that's what he did, over and over.''

But as good as Taylor was on the football field, Outar described his nephew as an even better person off it.

``He believed in the good things about people. He did things for people without recognition. When he was with his family, we didn't see a football star. He was just like one of us.''

DEVOTED FATHER

Taylor was also a devoted father and boyfriend to Jackie Garcia and their daughter, Jackie.

Fighting tears for most of her speech, Carolina Garcia described to the audience how in love her sister and Taylor were, how Taylor went home the day he met her sister and told his stepmother he needed to learn Spanish.

''Thank you for loving my sister the way you did,'' Carolina Garcia said. ``Thank you for the integrity and love you never failed to show . . . thank you for your big hugs and your smiles, which I miss so dearly.

``But most of all, thank you for the love of my life, my beautiful niece who blessed us all with her presence. I will make sure she knows the man her father was and how much you loved her. Your light will live on in her.''

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