SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- "She was very brave. She was very well loved," said Katrina Delee, a friend of Eunique Darby.

Darby was laid to rest Saturday, after losing a five-year battle with leukemia.

"She was just encouraging. Whenever the doctor said 'no,' she said 'yes,'" said one friend, Katrina Delee.

Darby encouraged dozens of African Americans to get registered with the national bone marrow donor registry as she searched for her own match that could save her life.

Only about eight percent of the seven million nationally registered donors are African American.

"The most likely match is someone of your same ethnic background. That's why it's important for all minorities to get registered, specifically African Americans," said Paula Miller, the executive director of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

Miller says that matches are most common between people of the same ethnicity.

"Tissue type is inherited, similar to the same way you may inherit hair color or eye color," said Miller.

Eunique Darby was matched with a donor in August and had a transplant lined up, but she passed away last week due to her complications with leukemia.

Friends say she touched the hearts of many lives.

"She'll leave a legacy for every young person to fight whatever comes their way," said Delee.

Darby was a student at Corcoran High School.

Anyone in good health, between the ages of 16-60 can register to be a bone marrow donor.

To get registered, all you have to do is get your cheek swabbed.

Another drive will be set up at the Oncenter in Syracuse on Dec. 6 during the Youth Day Fair.