Family, friends honor Ebonee Spears one year after she went missing

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — On January 15, 2016, Ebonee Spears went missing, but she is not forgotten.

On the anniversary of her disappearance, family and friends came to the Carolina Gymnastics Academy in Wilmington, where Spears used to work, to honor her and spread hope.

While her family spent the day remembering her, the search for their daughter, sister and cousin, is still on their minds.

No matter how much time has passed, her mother Harriett Rivers said she will always remember her daughter.

“She was the baby girl,” Rivers said. “I didn’t think she was ever going to grow up. She was always going to stay the baby girl. Even now she’s still the baby girl. I love her and I miss her and I miss her smile.”

Her mother says Spears would be so happy to see all the love in the room.

“She doesn’t like limelight stuff but this, she would’ve really really enjoyed,” Rivers said.

While fun was part of the event, it’s is also a chance to raise awareness and hopefully lead to some answers on where Spears is.

“Tell us anything that you think is important because no small thing is unimportant. Just let us know,” Spears’s cousin Shontel Kirby said.

While the searching continues, her mother has one hope.

“In the next coming days and months, this will be my last event and if not we’ll continue to push forward. But I pray to God this is the last one,” Rivers said.

Police say their investigation of Spears’s disappearance is still active, but they need your help. If you have any information on Spears, please contact Wilmington Police Department.