News

Actions

Family Of Latrice Maze Celebrates Her Life

Posted at 10:16 PM, May 05, 2013
and last updated 2013-05-05 22:46:06-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — More than 100 friends and family gathered on Jefferson St. in Grand Rapids Sunday afternoon to remember a mother that’s been missing for more than six weeks – now coming to grips with the notion that they’ll never see her again.

Latrice Maze, 26, has been missing since March 19 when she disappeared from the corner of Burton and Division around 12:00 p.m.

Her family told FOX 17 on Friday that police have now made her case a homicide investigation.

Roy Gillespie, the father of one of Maze’s daughters, was in class around the time Maze went missing. He says she called him while he was there.

“I never took the chance to answer it,” he says. “Only if I took that one moment just to step out of class and answer that phone call…I wouldn’t have to explain this to my daughter.”

Many tears were shed during a prayer service at the remembrance gathering Sunday, but smiles shone through as those who loved Maze shared memories of her life.

The Grand Rapids Ruff Ryders, a local motorcycle club, showed up to donate $300 to a family fund for Maze.

And as family came together to dance to some of Maze’s favorite music, the sun beamed down from above.

“She’s like this sun that’s gleaming on me right now,” Gillespie says. “That’s why it’s so bright today – because of her.”