DaJuan Hodges
DaJuan Hodges never gave his mother any trouble. "He had every opportunity to stray, and he chose not to," said his mother, Pamela Dixon, who raised two sons in Harlem.

As a child, Mr. Hodges loved to dance and ham it up for family pictures -- "He was always ready to show the latest dance," Ms. Dixon said -- and as a teenager he was a good student and did volunteer work.

When his daughter Jatair, now 8, was born, he embraced fatherhood with determination. "It was like, O.K., I have a child now," his mother said. "He just knew he had to stay up on things because he had this responsibility."

Mr. Hodges, who lived with his daughter and fiancée in the Bronx, did everything with his family, particularly going to movies, one of his passions. He worked in management services at Marsh & McLennan, on the 96th floor of 1 World Trade Center.

Ms. Dixon, who works for the same company in Midtown as an executive secretary, watched from her 42nd floor window as the first tower -- 2 World Trade Center -- collapsed on Sept. 11. "I just went crazy," she said. As she screamed, "My son, my son," and co-workers tried to calm her down, the other tower, where he was, also disappeared in a storm of smoke and dust.

Not having her son to bury has made the experience even more devastating. "You have nothing except good memories," Ms. Dixon said.

Copyright (c) 2001 by The New York Times Co. Reprinted by permission.
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The love of my life.....it hasn't gotten easier 11yrs later!! I miss you every single day!! Our girl is your spitting image!! Lol humor and all!! Rest in peace my love!! Until we meet again!! Love u for eternity!!
Jamielah Persol, Family
Sep 11 2012 6:38AM
So your face and name today and felt compelled to learn more about you . 10 years later you will not be forgotten , may god bless you and your family.
Tracy, Friend
Sep 11 2011 10:50AM
Dajuan you are forever in my Heart,I miss you and Daddy misses you very much.All we do is talk about you.No one will ever be able to take your place in my heart you are my Big brother and I love you......Always your little sister Rashida C
Rashida C Clarrett, Family
Jun 4 2011 3:29AM
In honor of my son, DaJuan Hodges, and many others who perished on 9/11/01, Osama Bin Laden was killed. Does this bring me joy or closure - ABSOLUTELY NOT! Bin Laden's death will not bring back my DaJuan or any of my co-workers/colleagues/friends. I cannot see myself jumping for joy and celebrating right now. The vision is still so clear in my head how they celebrating and danced in the street after killing nearly 3,000 people on 9/11. My heart will not let me go there, to celebrate the death of someone, regardless of circumstance. I will say that justice was finally done; but, don't for one minute think that this is over... Be Very Concerned & Stay Alert! DaJuan, my first born child, you will always be in my heart and never forgotten. Special Love For You Always! RIP! One Me! One You! One Love! So True! Love, Mommy.
Pamela Dixon, Family
May 2 2011 3:52PM
You will never be forgotten DaJuan, I love you and miss you. You will aways have a special place in my heart.
Mignon Callender-Hughes, Family
Sep 11 2009 9:54PM
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