by Rosalind Cutchins

FRANKLIN
The grief support group of the Children’s Center will gather on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m., to light candles for children who have died in the Western Tidewater community. This will be in the Regional Workforce Development Center at Paul D. Camp Community College.

Rosalind Cutchins, executive director of the Children’s Center, described the gathering as a time to celebrate lives and to express missing these lives.

“For families, the holiday season is often more painful than the daily missing of our children; For this reason, the group gathers to give a safe home to bereaved families,” Cutchins wrote in a press release announcing the event. “It is an opportunity to say the name of one’s child, to light a candle, to support others in grief and to laugh and cry about the children missed. Family and friends are welcome to attend this free event of remembrance. A child is always a child, no matter the age. Knowing there are others close by who understand this unique loss is comforting to many families.”

Beth Fox lost her son, Jackson, and his friends Carter, Luke and Boy Scouts of America leader John nearly 10 years ago.

“As we approach the 10-year anniversary date, it becomes harder to breathe. In the past ten years, we have repeated ‘what if’ and ‘why’ so many times,” she wrote.

“Not only for their families, but also for the community, the loss of these four was heart-breaking,” Cutchins added.

Clarke Fox, Jackson’s dad stated, “It has been 10 years and I still miss him every single day.”

Carter’s Mom, Jennifer, wrote, “I would say to all of you, hug one another tightly, say ‘I love you’ often, be kind, pray often and take lots and lots of pictures worth millions and millions of words.”

The Grief Support Group for bereaved parents meets on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Children’s Center, 700 Campbell Ave., Franklin. The community is welcome.

For more information on the Candlelight or Support Group, Cutchins asks people call the Children’s Center at 562-6806.