Reflection Garden set up outside Criminal Justice Complex
JACKSON, Tenn. – Leadership Jackson Class of 2023 in collaboration with the City of Jackson created a Reflection Garden outside of the Criminal Justice Complex to salute Hub City heroes.
The class took a tour of CJC and when visiting wanted to know how they could help.
“The deputy asked, “Just pray for us.” And so just going back and just putting our heads together, what better way to have that for them as well as the community,” said Jonathan Parker, a Leadership Jackson graduate of 2023.
This small area has a prayer box and prayer bench for members of the community to come use anytime.
We were told of a story where a mother would come to the facility to pray for her son at the edge of the fence.
“That’s as close as she could get to him and she would just weep, and we would just be there with her consoling her because it was such a special time. I mean you don’t see things like that happen very often, you know, someone right at the jail praying for their child,” said Tom Mapes, the Community Outreach Leader for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. “It really, it just brings you to tears.”
The prayer box is for those who wish to put cards, letters of encouragement, and other written messages that show gratitude for law enforcement officers.
“My hope is this becomes a positive infection, meaning fire department gets one, first responders get one, your local jobs get one,” Parker said.
And the bench may be used for those who long to sit and pray for police officers or their loved ones.
“I hope that you all can come here and find a little peace and a little solace. And I know I speak for everybody in Madison County and Jackson and West Tennessee when I say to y’all, we thank you, and may god bless you,” said Rep. David Kustoff.
Members of Leadership Jackson say there are plans for more projects like this in the future..
Find more local news here.
