For the family of Mary Jackson, this was their first Christmas without her, and as the anniversary of her New Year's Eve death approaches, they pray 2012 will bring justice. Jackson's family has missed her every day this year. but especially this Christmas weekend.
"She was ready to live and travel and enjoy her grandkids and that ended really early," her daughter, Rokeshia Holmes, said. "Without parents, period -- but without your mother, it's definitely been a tough one. If it wasn't for our kids, I felt like I could have just stayed buried under the covers the whole day."
Hundreds of cars pass by the site on Ella Road near Richey , where she died last New Year's Eve.
Jackson was going to church services with her grandson, Aundre Holmes, a tradition the family held every year. Then, another car veered into their lane and struck them head on. The 55-year-old mother of three and grandmother of 12 died.
Her grandson has a steel rod in his leg today.
"It was like a mother-son thing, I can't really describe how much I treasured her," Aundre Holmes said.
Police say that driver ran from the scene, even leaving his passenger who ended up in a coma for months.
"If that was anybody else, most likely they would have stayed there and helped somehow, but he just left to cover his own hide -- just crazy," Aundre Holmes said.
As the first anniversary approaches, the family is waiting for an arrest. Investigators have worked many leads and interviewed the passenger, who owned the car, but no justice yet.
"They even left their passenger to die. That's not a friend, that's not somebody who cares, that's just somebody who is heartless. Do the right thing for once. I'm making a plea, I'm begging for you to turn yourself in," Jackson's other daughter, Tiffany Holmes said.
And as a new year approaches, the family prays answers will come in 2012.
"My hope is just to close this chapter in our life and get some justice. That's my greatest hope for this year," Rokeshia Holmes said.
The family will hold a candlelight vigil on New Year's Eve. If you have any information you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477. You can remain anonymous and could claim up to a $5,000 reward.
