Memorial continues to grow as vigil is held for Mariah Woods

ONSLOW COUNTY, NC (WWAY) – People from across North Carolina gathered to remember Mariah Woods.

Just three days since authorities believe they recovered the three-year-old’s body, a memorial near Onslow County continues to grow. It was the site of a community candlelight vigil Tuesday evening to pray, sing, and show love to Mariah.

For many who came, Mariah and her story affected them all differently.

“I am a mother,” said Angela Wiles who was a co-organizer of the vigil and one of the initial creators of the memorial.

“I have a great grandson that is seven days older than Mariah,” said Carol Peebles who attempted to take part in the search and spoke at the candlelight vigil.

“We drive by the house everyday to take her to preschool, pick her up from preschool,” said Tiana Purdy who had to explain the entire story of the search and recovery to her daughter.

Purdy is referring to her daughter, Harper, in fact, they both followed Mariah’s story closely. They were not able to take part in the search for her, but Harper wanted to let Mariah know she loves her.

“So I told her that we can bring her something of hers that she wanted to bring,” said Purdy. “And this morning she asked me if she could make her a little card and asked if she could say ‘hi’ to God for her.”

It a message of love like that that is shared with the hundreds of people that saw Mariah’s story across this area and the nation and ultimately devastated by how it all ended.

“I really and truly think that we feel that we let her down,” said Purdy. “I think everyone feels that way.”

Feeling that way or not, there has been an outpouring of support in the Onlow County community and around the family. The memorial for Mariah sits just yards away from her family’s home on Dawson Cabin Road.

Now a fund for the family has been created at the local Navy Federal Credit Union. That along with the memorial as well as the vigil is the community’s way of working to heal and help the family in any way possible.

“I knew that it would be big, I really did,” said Purdy. “And I don’t think anyone is ever going to forget Mariah.”

There is another candelight vigil expected to happen at the memorial site Sunday evening around 5:30 P.M. There will also be a visitation service for Mariah Woods at the Jones Funeral Home in Jacksonville Wednesday evening.