HALIFAX COUNTY, Va. – Emma Layne's sister, Wynona, said Friday's vigil was an opportunity for friends and family to come together to remember Emma during the holidays.
The vigil was the third held since June.
Prior to the vigil, those attending it gathered for a meal in the church where the vigil was to be held.
Emma was last seen June 17 outside Cody Convenience Store where she worked.
Investigators combed Layne's property for days, but found no definitive evidence related to her disappearance.
In November, hunters found human remains in a wooded area less than a mile from Emma's house.
According to the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, the remains were found in what appeared to be a shallow grave.
The remains were sent to the medical examiner's office in Richmond for identification.
As of Friday, they had not been identified. Family members, though, believe the remains are Emma's.
A Facebook page called "Help Find Emma Compton Layne" has been established for people to share thoughts and prayers.
Wynona said Emma's disappearance has been hard on the family, especially the past few days as the family celebrated Christmas.
"(Emma's disappearance) takes such a toll. It destroys you from the inside out. You still have to walk around and do your everyday things, get up and go to work and associate with people," Wynona said.
She added that, in an effort to be respectful, many people are hesitant to approach the family and ask for an update on the case but she welcomes the inquiries.
"I love it. I absolutely love it when people share their memories about Emma. I've gotten messages from people, telling me just something really nice that she did," Wynona said, smiling.
Wynona said getting an identification of the remains could take up to 90 days.