In the Beginning

All of us who have lost a loved one, in particular a child, want them to be remembered. Most of us take flowers to the graveside of our loved ones though out the year, such as on birthdays, anniversaries, Holidays etc. Sometimes there's a even a small tree planted beside the grave. Jerry Jonas Mudge lost two sons in a car crash in 1990 "It's getting close to the fall time of year when people think of planting flowers, plants or trees. Before my sons died, I loved the beautiful fall colors, like red and burnt orange. For me, it meant Christmas would soon be coming. Even though I have never had a "green thumb", we planted a vegetable garden every fall. But then my two sons died together in the fall (October '90) and the changing colors on leaves became a reminder that they were dead and part of me died with them. In the cold of winter, Feb. '91, my husband Leon and I began to dream of life again. Leon Jr.'s birthday was coming in a week on Feb. 17 and we found a spot in our front yard to begin a Memorial Garden in their memory. We planted over 500 bulbs and two trees. Leon Jr.'s tree was a white dogwood and Wayne's a pink dogwood. Wayne's life was always more daring. He liked to take risks so I wanted his tree to be different than the usual white dogwood.

As I planted the bulbs, I thought of how all our children are laid in the ground like these ugly brown dead-looking bulbs and then covered with dirt. But Praise God, this is not the end for the bulbs or our children. It is the beginning of a new life where they bloom forever. Death is not the end for a child of God. Now every year, I look forward to planting season, knowing I will see these come to life in the spring. Footprints Ministry members planted the first garden as group for Jewel Funderbunk, who lost her son Arteze to murder in April '93. She found out a few months later that she was fighting breast cancer. By the fall of '94, her spirits were really down and she thought her time was coming soon to join her son in Heaven. Her other son, Boomer, called me, concerned for his mother. I remember that I had 6 daffodil bulbs I was ready to add to my garden but instead took them over to Jewel's house. After hugging and praying with her, I showed her the bulbs and promised her she would see them come up in the spring. With the help of four more parents (one father + three mothers), we planted the bulbs. Some of them brought plants to add to mine. Out of this grew the dream for a community garden, where we all could come together as a family and remember our children.

By the way, Jewel did see her garden come to life in April '95 and also April '96, before she joined her son, Arteze. She was an inspiration to all members of our group. We have also helped plant two more gardens for parents. The one for Ann Stephens is in her yard at the very place her son was murdered. Another was for Barbara Sanders.

Now my first husband, Leon Jonas, has joined his sons. My new husband, Skip Mudge, and I have had a garden in remembrance of my two sons and his son, Jeff, wherever we have lived. We had a metal plate containing Leon Jr.'s & Wayne's pictures, rocks engraved with their names or symbols of what they enjoyed, etc. Now that we're moving to a condo, we're still going to have a small garden of remembrance, even if it's just a large flowerpot on our patio.

A New Memorial Garden is born

In December 1998, Footprints Ministry held a Memorial Service at an area church to remember all our children who have died. The mayor Pat McCrory of Charlotte N. C. was in attendance and gave a talk for us. After the candle lighting ceremony Jean Randall went up to the mayor and told him that he needed to talk to Jerry Mudge about a memorial garden for remembered children. In the next few months she, and Sara Colvin who both lost children helped to work on setting up the corporation to manage a garden. From Jean speaking out for us, the Walkway and garden was born.

On Tuesday, December 7, 1999, Mecklenburg County approved the use of Frazier Park as the site for Our Children's Memorial Walkway. With the help of the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation this is a dream that has finally come true. Frazier Park is located at 1201 West Fourth Street in the historic Third Ward community of Charlotte. Our Children's Memorial Walkway at Frazier Park offers a positive place to remember our children. This memorial is a springboard for our community to remember our children in a place of life.

Our Mission

To provide an enduring memorial as a positive place of healing for those who have experienced the Death of a child, family member, or friend and to do community outreach to help families in grief. In addition, To have a positive place to remember children of all ages. Bereaved parents often fear their child will be forgotten; A place for families and friends to meet regardless of your race and denomination; A place for the community to come together and show their support.