'I'm sad for everyone who won't get to see her smile'

Posted By LINDSAY GROVES, SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER

Updated 6 months ago

Lindsay Groves photoDozens of people gathered at a vigil for Stephanie Hoddinott the 20-year-old Midland woman murdered January 10th.

On Monday evening, Stephanie Hoddinott should have been celebrating her 21st birthday. Instead, about 75 of her friends, family, and supporters huddled at twilight in the corner of her former high school parking lot to share memories of her.

"I'm not sad for Steph because she lived every day to the fullest. I'm sad for everyone who won't get to see her smile," said one friend and former roommate of Hoddinott.

"I see my daughters in her ... my heart aches for her parents," said one resident who came to support Hoddinott's family.

Bundled in layers to fight the bitter cold and holding their candles, several spoke publically about how Hoddinott touched their lives.

Brenda Passa, Hoddinott's mother, was one of the first to speak.

As she fought back tears, she read a poem expressing her feelings of loss and emptiness, and the pain in simply trying to cope. She ended with a wish to Hoddinott: "Happy Birthday baby girl".

Friends and family recalled memories of a girl who went out of her way to make others smile, and encouraged everyone to get along.

They also shared a memory of Hoddinott raising mice to feed snakes. This was received with laughter from the crowd, as they didn't quite understand the logic behind animal-loving Ho ddinott's actions.

In between the sniffles brought on by tears and the cold, others talked quietly of the short life of a young woman with so much ahead of her.

As the evening came to an end, the glow of the candles provided a peaceful atmosphere as everyone said their goodbyes and the last song, Toby Keith'sCryin' for Me,played into the night.

"I'm gonna miss that smile/I'm gonna miss you my friend/Even though it hurts the way it ended up/I'd do it all again ... I'm not cryin cause I feel so sorry for you/ I'm cryin for me."

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