Family remembers Greensboro woman who died in tragic plane crash

NORTH CAROLINA, USA – WFMY News 2 hears from the family of Melodi Hodges.

She is one of seven people killed in a tragic plane crash in Wyoming on Friday.

Her brothers said her little sister Melodi was the light in her life. Irv and Alan Hodges told us that the gospel and counseling have always been a part of Melodi’s life.

Growing up, their family went on international mission trips to spread the Word of God.

“We grew up together on a mission field, all three of us alone with my mother and father, and served for many years in Mexico and parts of Central America,” said Brother Irv.

The brothers said their sister’s sudden death was devastating.

“She was the center of the family, she was our little sister,” Irv said.

“We were best friends,” said Brother Alan.

Her brothers said Melodi spent most of her adult life in Greensboro, where she joined Pleasant Garden Baptist Church and continued to go on mission trips.

A visit to Charlotte to see the gospel group The Nelons led to her sister joining their group. Looking back, her brother said she had always had a love for music.

“She played the accordion a lot when she was young and we made her life difficult because of the accordion,” Alan said.

Both brothers said Melodi fulfilled her mission through music.

“She had a servant’s heart and loved to serve and be in God’s service,” Irv said.

Her brothers told us she had worked as an assistant for the Nelons for nearly a decade. She also traveled with them regularly until a fatal accident occurred Friday afternoon. Their plane crashed in Wyoming. The group was en route to Alaska for the Gaither Homecoming Cruise.

“She died doing something she loved; she died serving the Lord,” Irv said.

The NTSB is investigating the tragic accident.

The Hodges family told us they had many questions that needed to be answered before they could begin planning a memorial to honor their sister Melodi.

Full statement – Gaither Management Group:

The Nelons, one of America’s most beloved gospel music families, were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash Friday afternoon en route to Alaska for the Gaither Homecoming Cruise. The crash killed Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler and their assistant Melodi Hodges, and pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident. Autumn, Jason and Kelly’s youngest daughter, and her husband Jamie Streetman were not on board the plane and arrived safely in Seattle where they were notified of the accident. They were taken to the hotel where artists gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief and promise to support them in any need. For now, Autumn and Jamie will return home to Kelly’s brother Todd Nelon and his wife Rhonda to begin the difficult tasks ahead. Please pray for her, the Kistler family, the Haynie family and the family of Melodi Hodges.