A photo of Gretchen Fleming sits on a table surrounded by candles during a vigil honoring her memory Monday evening at Point Park in Parkersburg. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

PARKERSBURG – Friends, family and hundreds of community members met Monday evening at Point Park for a candlelight vigil honoring Gretchen Fleming, offering prayers, music and words of remembrance for a life speakers said should be remembered beyond the circumstances of her death.

The vigil opened with remarks from Caci Petrehn, who told those gathered that the evening was not about having answers, but about standing together in grief.

“Sometimes there are no words big enough for her,” Petrehn said. “Sometimes there’s no neat way to make sense of loss or heartbreak or the weight of a community that’s carrying something like this.”

Petrehn said the vigil was a space to mourn, remember and support Fleming’s loved ones.

“You don’t need to have the right thing to say tonight,” she said. “You don’t need to know exactly how to feel. You only need to be here.”

From left, Jennifer Fleming, Gretchen Fleming's stepmother, and Emma Fleming, Gretchen's sister, share their appreciation and memory of Gretchen during a candlelight vigil held in her honor Monday evening at Point Park. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Pastor Shauna Hyde then offered remarks and prayer, saying many people in the community may never have met Fleming but had been affected by her story and by watching her family grieve.

“I’ve been told she was creative and took part in social justice activities, and I’ve been told she was the kind of person who would add her voice to the voices of others and show up when it mattered,” Hyde said. “And now we have showed up when it matters.”

Hyde said Fleming’s story had brought people together in a spirit of compassion.

“Her life and death has inspired us to come together as community in a divided world,” Hyde said.

Members of Fleming’s family also spoke, thanking the community, the Wood County Women’s Rights Alliance, the Parkersburg Police Department, Detective Zimmerman, Police Chief Matthew Board and others involved in the investigation.

Hundreds of people hold lit candles at Point Park Monday evening to honor and remember Gretchen Fleming. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Jennifer Fleming, Gretchen’s stepmother, said the family appreciated the love and support they had received from friends, family and the community.

“We wouldn’t be where we are right now without you guys and your support, and it means more than you’ll ever know,” she said.

Emma Fleming, Gretchen’s sister, remembered her as independent, curious and witty, someone who loved fashion, “Twin Peaks” and science fiction novels, and who made music and wrote songs.

“She was never afraid to go after what she wanted, and she was always undeniably her truest and most authentic self,” Emma Fleming said. “Many of you will remember her as a photo or a story or a victim, but I will remember her a different way — as a daughter, a granddaughter, sister and friend, as Gretchen.”

After candles were lit, Pastor Annie McMillan offered another prayer, asking for comfort for Fleming’s family and all those who had followed the case.

Pastor Shauna Hyde from St. Paul's United Methodist Church, leads attendees to a candlelight vigil hosted in memory of Gretchen Fleming Monday evening. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Isabelle Moore closed the vigil and announced that the next Pink Period Pantry would be held in Fleming’s memory.

Organizer Caci Petrehn welcomes friends, family and attendees to a vigil held in honor of Gretchen Felming. (Photo by Gwen Sour)