17th annual walk to remember held for families who lost babies

JACKSON, Tenn — The 17th annual Walk to Remember was held at the Jackson-Madison county general hospital for the families of west Tennessee who’ve lost babies through pregnancy, or right after birth. Every October families come together to remember the babies who lost their lives too soon.

Dr. Bill Espy of Antioch Baptist church delivered a message to the families.

“You are walking past the fear of death and I want to encourage you.” Dr. Espy said.

Betty Beverly Brown, a mother, said she lost her child 14 years ago and has been attending the service ever since.

Brown said “My son had a rare disease or illness that he was not able to survive from.”

Families who suffer with lost get to walk through a serenity garden located on the side of the hospital. The garden features a memorial wall.

Coordinator, Judy Arrington said the wall has “over 300 hundred babies names engraved on that wall we also have angels and a fountain so its become a very peaceful place for families to come.”

Parents who experienced a lost received a pink or blue ribbon based off the child’s sex, and if there was a miss carriage those families got yellow ribbons.
Five candles were lit representing grief, love, hope, courage, and strength in honor of the babies lost. The glow of the flame signified filling the empty space in the hearts and homes of parents.

“When you lose a child you kind of feel alone and even though its been 14 years for me this still lets me know that I’m not in this alone.” Brown said.

Organizers said at the end of the ceremony all parents were given a carnation with a purple ribbon to take out to  the memorial wall.