In the Beginning . . .

There was a vision some 18 months earlier that began the project...

The vision began as a few that felt a need.  The need defined a memorial that would be appropriate for the children of our church family that had given their all.  The limitations were defined and the garden settings were outlined. 

The group of visionaries included: Kristi Earwood, Kim Coad, Rick Githens, Dr. Lynn Hill, Leon Jones, Dennis Phillips, Devin Phillips, Jim Rubino, Elaine Rockovich, and Brent and Beth Young.  The first meeting began with a dream and a concept.  There was a dream to develop a garden at the rear of the Kenneday House, along Church Street that would be dedicated to the Glory of God and the children He shared with us for a brief time. 

The following were to be considered: the fountain, trees and arbor were to remain as an integral part of the garden.  The names of the children were to be engraved on the paving bricks/stones around the fountain.  The walkways, shrubs, picket fence and dry stack rock wall would be added to give the allusion of antiquity and enclosure for tranquil and reverent meditation.  Both the fountain and arbor were in place as a result of Eagle Scout Projects.  Neither were installed with the knowledge and vision of a garden for our children.  Both play an integral part in and of the garden.  From the original notes the garden setting could or would include: water-either still or moving; plants-trees, shrubs, ground cover and flower; structures-walkways, benches (metal, concrete, natural or wood); entries (arch, arbor or pergola); fences (stone, picket or living plants), lighting and statuaries. 

The project was to be funded by Special Memorial Gifts over and above regular giving.  The initial estimated costs were: Stone Wall-$6,000.00, Walkways-$1,500.00,  added plants, turf and mulch $2,500.00, annual upkeep for the church budget-$300.00.  Total estimated cost $10,000.00.  At the time the budget was developed, contributions for this project were at $242.10, in early Spring 2003. 

Several meetings occurred to discuss and plan the garden.  Leon developed an architectural rendering of the garden based on what he envisioned the garden would develop into.  In the Spring of 2003 Leon made an announcement to each of our church services of the vision and plan for our garden. He asked for volunteers to make the vision a reality.  I met Leon for the first time after the early service.  I offered my time and talents to him to make this a reality.  Over the next few weeks, several events unfolded.  Volunteers to work and create the garden and gifts to make it a reality began to unfold almost faster than we could manage.  Stone to build the wall was located in Eagleville, TN for a nominal fee.  Leon, Fred Dismukes, Paul Fleenor and myself went with workers to pick up the stones and return to Franklin.  The evening was productive but the weather, lightning and heavy rain was the worst we had seen for several months and returning to Franklin was a challenge.  All the available rocks were placed near the construction site before sundown.  We were not sure if this would be sufficient to complete the wall but we knew it would be a good beginning.  The expense at this time was $200.00 and a lot of “sweat equity” in the project.  A crew of Mexican laborers were hired to construct the wall.  It was decided to use mortar with the stones for additional rigidity and strength.  After one day of labor, we completed the wall on Church St. and turned the corner behind the Kenneday house.  However, we ran out  of stones.  Leon made contact with the Bozeman family on Lewisburg Pike and found a source for additional stones.  We met on two afternoons to gather stones from a wall buried from runoff in front of the Bozeman home.  We resumed the construction of the wall and finished the wall except for the “cap” and “rubble” rocks at the end of the walls.  The labor to build the wall was $1,200.00.  The mortar and materials to build the wall was less than $300.00.  We found the rubble rocks from a construction site off Carters Creek Pike.  The stones for the “cap” were obtained via barter for used equipment parts needed by a local rock dealer. The wall that developed the initial appearance and dream of the Children's Garden was finished.  The final cost was less than $2,000.00 and well below the initial cost estimate.  Our garden was beginning to develop into a reality!

Once the wall was completed, the task of obtaining all of the names for the garden began.  It was known that 6 children died since the start of 2000 until the Spring of 2003.  We were not sure of how many children would be recognized or known at the time of a dedication.   As time went on, we painfully learned of the number prior to 2000 and the additional painful loss of Katie Jeter in 2003.  When the garden was dedicated, there were 19 children remembered in our garden.  Ironically, there are three sets of twins in our garden. 

On one evening as Leon and I gathered our thoughts, we tried to remember where all the stones came from.  Some stones came from Ed Ladd's farm in Arrington, TN, most from a farm south of Eagleville, to two locations in Franklin, marble from Georgia, limestone from northern Alabama, stones from a family garden in North Carolina to cap stones from Missouri and Oklahoma.  As a final contribution to the garden, Leon selected the stones to make the cross, from a selection of stones out of middle Alabama.  These stones are rich in Iron and were selected to appear as if they had been in the garden for many years.  His choice was again “select” and the design was made to fit the design of the garden as if the cross had been in the garden for many years. 

The walls are unfinished to signify the lives of our children that were also unfinished.

The vines planted near the arbor are called Cross vines.  These are native to Tennessee and if dissected, would show their appearance of the cross at the intersection of each leaf. 

The crosses in the picket fence are for the burdens we bear daily.

The Rosemary plants outside the picket fence are for remembrance.

The Green Grass speaks from the 23^rd Psalm. 

There are Dogwood trees planted in the garden.  Legend has the wood used to make the cross for Jesus was made of Dogwood. 

The Lenten or Christmas rose outside the stonewall bloom from Christmas thru Easter. 

And last, the rusty leaning stone cross is a symbol of God's darkest hour in human history. 

    “And now in this peaceful place we may hear these children saying softly:

                        Don't weep for me...

                        For I am a thousand winds that blow.

                        I am a diamond glint of snow.

                        I am the sunlight of ripened grain.

                        I am the gentle warm spring rain.

                        I am the quiet bird in swift flight.

                        I am the soft starshine of night.

                        Please do not cry...

                        I did not die...

                        Let the Holly tree and Maple weep for us.

                                                                        - -   Leon Jones, April 18, 2004

The garden was designed, built and dedicated to the memory of the children of the First United Methodist Church in Franklin, TN.  Our garden has now been added to the National Registry of Children's Memorial Gardens as of July 2004. 

As we invite all to participate in communion, we invite all to visit and enjoy our Children's Memorial Garden.  We hope it touches your heart as it has strengthened ours.

Sincerely,

Steve Fulton and Leon Jones

Summer 2004