JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 26, 2016 —
51社区鈥檚 school of social work will sponsor the ninth annual Remember Me Commemorative Event at 5:45 p.m. Monday, September 26 at the Carl Grant Events Center on Union鈥檚 campus.
The event is designed to support families who have lost loved ones to homicide and will include a dinner program and a candlelight walk and balloon release around Union's Miller Tower.
鈥淚n this ninth year, we continue to hear that Remember Me has become the essential event where families of homicide loss gather to remember and honor their loved ones,鈥� said Theresa Blakley, professor of social work at Union and one of the organizers of the event.
Cliff and Norma Ellington will be the guest speakers at this year鈥檚 event. Their son, Jerome Ellington, was killed in 2009. Blakley said the event initially sprang from conversations in a therapeutic support group for those who have suffered from homicide loss.
鈥淢embers expressed how deeply they needed their community to know that their murdered loved ones were persons who were esteemed, cherished, beloved,鈥� Blakley said. 鈥淭hat they were in the midst of chasing their dreams, ambitions and managing their responsibilities when their lives were taken, and that they should not be forgotten.鈥�
She said the Remember Me event allows these families to see that they are not alone and to have their pain and courage acknowledged by the community. 鈥淧laced in the hands of God, no suffering is ever wasted,鈥� Blakley said.
The Remember Me event is free and open to the public. For more information on the event or the therapeutic support group, contact Blakely at 731-661-5564.