'We miss her a great deal'

CRESTVIEW — Calandra Stallworth's friends and family members want no one to forget the mother of two is missing.

Shelia Knight discusses her daughter's personality

In late March, loved ones started spreading word on social media that the Crestview resident hadn't contacted her family in awhile, which is unusual for her.

On March 27, Stallworth allegedly informed the police department she wasn’t missing. She told the CPD she was in Alabama with her boyfriend, Antwon Smith, for a getaway and had a poor cell phone signal.

Stallworth’s car was spotted in Destin on April 2, but it was being driven by Smith. He was arrested at the scene for cocaine possession, marijuana possession and driving with a suspended or revoked license, according to Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts records.

Birthday and candlelight vigil footage

Loved ones held a candle-lit vigil Thursday evening for Stallworth, who turned 29 on May 18. A small group of relatives and friends met outside her Church Street home to pray for her safe return.

The group included Stallworth's mother, Shelia Knight; daughters, Jaziah, 10, and Xiomara, 8; and her grandmother, Joan Harvey, who lives next door.

Attendees placed lighted candles on the house porch rails before the ceremony began, and everyone joined hands as Daniel Jackson of the Crestview Church of Christ led a prayer on Stallworth's behalf.

Shortly afterward, the group sang "Happy Birthday" to Calandra and released balloons in her name. Her brothers, Eddie and Larry Stallworth, uncle, Tyrone Baker, along with cousin Hattie Jackson and friends Amber Hudson, who grew up with Calandra, and her mother, Laura Hudson, joined in the ceremony.

Along with the love they expressed for Calandra, attendees mentioned frustration with not being able to launch a search for her.

"We just want this story out there, because the police aren't doing anything or giving us any information and won't let us search," Laura Hudson said. "We have to do something instead of just waiting in the background and told not to do anything. We need her home."

Laura Hudson said the police refused their request to search for Calandra on the private property where her car was found because it would affect area canine searches.

"We need to let the police department know that we are not going to give up and they should see to it that something gets done. We want to help and search, but this should have been done a long time ago," Laura Hudson said.

"We miss her a great deal," family friend Connie Matthews of Crestview said. "All we want is for somebody to know her whereabouts."

Brian Hughes, Crestview Police Department public information officer, said that the CPD cannot comment on the case due to it being an active investigation.

People may call the Crestview Police Department Dispatch Center, 682-2055, if they have more information on Stallworth or her whereabouts.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'We miss her a great deal'