Missing Rocky Mount Woman Remembered at Vigil - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

Missing Rocky Mount Woman Remembered at Vigil

It was similar to any other birthday party: family pictures, balloons, and cupcakes. But once the singing was over, the birthday girl didn't blow out the candles.

"We miss her, my little granddaughter misses her, and every day Madison says, "Where is my Aunt Heather? Is she going to come home?" And this is way of celebrating her birthday and keeping her memory alive," says family friend Cheryl Pagans.

Heather Hodges would have been 23 years old. Even though she hasn't been found, family and friends wanted to celebrate the years they had with her.

"Birthdays and holidays are a big thing in our family and I don't feel it would have been right not to celebrate her birthday with her not being here," says Hodges' sister, Crystal Hodges.

Crystal Hodges says it is bittersweet.

"It would be better if she was here and it would be better if we had news of what is going on," Crystal Hodges says. "It would be a lot easier if she was here."

People who had never meet Hodges, like Barbara Cheney, dropped off stuffed animals and flowers.

"It is important to remember she is missing," Cheney says. "We don't want everyone to forget about her, we don't want it to be unsolved."

In keeping her memory alive, family and friends hope to keep her case in the spotlight, and continue the search for Hodges, remembering to never lose hope.