GREENSBORO -- Friends and family held a candlelight vigil Sunday night to remember Sherri Jackson, a Greensboro woman killed nearly two years ago.

Police say Jackson’s ex-boyfriend led them to her body just over a week ago in exchange for a plea deal. The family says they want to honor their daughter’s memory by raising awareness about domestic violence.

“To describe Sherri is to say; once you meet her you're going to love her. There's something about her that makes you love her,” said Portia Shipman, one of Sherri’s friends.

It was a chance for the community to remember a woman taken too soon and an opportunity to begin healing. “It's actually to help bring awareness to Sherri Jackson, because a lot of people have questions. And it's also to bring peace to the community so they can heal on the situation that happened to this young lady in Greensboro,” Shipman said.

Support came in many forms -- from hugs and songs to lighting candles in her memory. “I knew a lot of people who cared about her and knew her and who were friends with her so I wanted to be in support of them,” Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson said.

Friends and family used this memorial not only to remember and honor their friend but also to draw attention to a growing epidemic. Friends say they started the Sherri Jackson Foundation for the prevention of domestic violence. They say they hope to keep what happened to Jackson from happening to others.

“Our community is suffering from serious problems with violence -- violence on women, violence in general -- and that the families of victims need to be supported,” said community member Tracey Snipes.

They say every step they take to keep Jackson’s memory alive will bring attention to domestic violence and help to end it. The family will hold a funeral service for Jackson Monday in her hometown of Morganton at the Ebony Funeral Home at 2 p.m.

Decarlo Bennet, 29, is charged with the murder. He faces 16 years in prison.