NORTH CAROLINA, USA — A tragedy felt in Greensboro.
In a statement the manager of the gospel group The Nelons said, "One of the best loved Gospel music families in America, The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska. Killed in the crash were Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler and their assistant, Melodi Hodges, along with the pilot, Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa." - Gaither Management Group
WFMY News 2 learned that Melodi Hodges is a native of Greensboro.
The gospel group's assistant has roots at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church. Her former pastor Reverend Michael Barrett describes her as a humble servant of God. He told us she spent two decades in their congregation and took part in fellowships and mission trips.
"She was a delightful and wonderful soul who always has a smile. She went on a mission trip to Honduras and was our interpreter in Spanish," he recalled.
Rev. Barrett is the Missions Strategist for the Piedmont Baptist Association. He told us Hodges service didn't stop there. He said a Nelons concert in Charlotte pushed her to continue serving others through music.
"Encouraging people in the Lord, that was her heartbeat. She fell in love with The Nelons back in 2013-2014," Barrett said.
He said Hodges eventually moved to Georgia to get closer to the gospel group as they traveled the world.
When Friday's plane crash happened, the group was on their way to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise.
Former U.S. Congressman Mark Walker was devastated when he got word of the deadly crash.
He said the decorated gospel group were anointed.
"They did such a great job, they were not just amateurs. Three of these members were in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, they were very talented people," Walker said.
One of the people killed in the plane crash was band member Amber Nelons Kistler's husband Nathan. Walker said he knew him very well. He shared a video with the two of them singing together on stage. As he touches his friends shoulder Walker described Kistler as a man of God.
"I'm just blessed to have known this young man and to see him flourish. I've been scrolling through his social media hearing his rendition of The Lord's Prayer. His impact is impossible to measure and we'll only know through the years ahead to see the depths of those he ministered to with his life," he shared.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.