It's difficult to imagine anybody will be filling Lori Hodges' shoes.
She's been connected for more than 20 years with the local chapter of Compassionate Friends, a peer-support organization that helps parents deal with grief after the loss of a child.
Hodges joined the local group in 1999, five weeks after she lost her son, Michael, in a traffic crash. She served the group in many ways, as a volunteer, secretary and leader.
She also served on the Governor's Organ Donation Advisory Committee for about nine years.
She had talked for years with her children about the importance of organ donations. She was not surprised to learn Michael had signed up to be an organ donor when he received his driving permit -- about three weeks before the fatal crash.
Hodges will be leaving Jefferson City next week -- to move to the St. Louis area, where she'll be close to her new granddaughter, 9-month-old Evangeline (she'll be within three blocks).
Hodges was one of the original members of Capital City Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). After 10 years, she continues to be involved with the group.
Her husband Denny, who was beside her through the struggles, unfortunately had a stroke nine years ago. He has remained in a nursing facility since, but is suffering from dementia. Hodges intends to continue to visit him as often as possible.
She has helped everybody at some point or another, close friend Lura McCallister said.
"She was always there for everybody. And she was very humble about it," McCallister said. "We're here to celebrate all that Lori's done."
McCallister spoke during a celebration in honor of Hodges, intending to wish her well as she moves to a new community.
McCallister recently celebrated a birthday. Hodges didn't forget, and treated her to a breakfast. Hodges gave her a little container of "pills," each of which contained a message.
Messages included nuggets like, "Did you know that if you hold your nose, you can't hum?"
Thursday's message was a note that expressed how much McCallister had touched Hodges' life.
"I said, 'Lori, every life you've touched is better because you touched it.' And that's the way it is with Lori," she said.
The work at CASA is wonderful, Hodges said. "I love CASA," she continued. "Some things I can continue doing from afar."
She's already contacted CASA in the St. Louis area, in the hopes of continuing the work.
"I do all of those kinds of things in memory of Michael. I take the time to help others," Hodges said.
Her work helping others has afforded Hodges opportunities, such as throwing out the first pitch at a Cardinals/Royals game. She said she trained for a month before the event to avoid an embarrassing throw, but admitted she was more interested in going shopping afterward than staying for the entire game.
More than 40 people attended a celebration of Hodges on Thursday night at Wesley United Methodist Church.
"Lori is the most dedicated coworker that I have ever worked with," said longtime Capital City CASA colleague Alex LeCure. "There's never something she overlooks when it comes to providing something for her coworkers. And in her job as a CASA coordinator, she is the best in the business."