GLENDORA — The Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center (ETHIC) hosted “Blooming Together: Rooted in Remembrance, Growing in Hope” on Oct. 24.
The event marked the launch of ETHIC’s Community Healing, Reflection & Meditation Garden, an initiative designed to create a welcoming space for remembrance, reflection, healing and hope.
The ceremony, led by Congressman Bennie G. Thompson and local faith leaders, featured prayers honoring young lives lost to violence throughout the Mississippi Delta, along with a community remembrance during which the names of 30 individuals who lost their lives to violence were read aloud. This solemn tribute, “Speaking Their Names,” affirmed the importance of remembering those whose lives were cut short and recognizing the lasting impact of violence on families and communities.
The program also included a moment of silence honoring Jake Scooter, ETHIC’s landscaper and gardener, who died on Oct. 7. In recognition of his contributions to the museum and its grounds, ETHIC will plant a tree in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to his life and service.
The garden represents a significant step toward transforming ETHIC’s grounds into a place that fosters healing, contemplation and community connection.
Located at a site deeply connected to the history of Emmett Till, the garden will honor his life and legacy while also commemorating young people whose lives have been lost to violence across the Mississippi Delta.
Through this initiative, ETHIC seeks to create an enduring space where grief can be acknowledged, lives celebrated and hope cultivated for future generations.
ETHIC has been awarded a $25,000 matching grant through America in Bloom (AIB), in partnership with Canadian National (CN) Railway, to support community beautification efforts.
The funding will help advance the garden’s development as part of a broader commitment to creating a more welcoming and sustainable community.
Thompson delivered the keynote address. Additional remarks were provided by Mississippi State Rep. Tracey Rosebud; Glendora Mayor Johnny Thomas; ETHIC Board Chairman Everett Penn; AIB Director Laura Kunkle; AIT Grant Committee Chairman Marvin Miller; and CN Railway’s U.S. Government Affairs representative Antoine Hawkins.
Prayer was a central component of the ceremony, with local faith leaders offering prayers for healing, peace, remembrance and an end to violence. Participating clergy included Rev. Winfred Hill of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Glendora and Frierson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Tutwiler; Rev. R.C. Chambers of Persimmon Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Glendora; and Elder Johnny Gary Jr. of Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ in Glendora.
“Through this initiative, ETHIC seeks to cultivate not only a more beautiful community, but also a lasting place of remembrance and renewal — where grief can be acknowledged, lives celebrated, and hope for future generations nurtured,” said ETHIC Executive Director Dr. Sharon L. Hill.
The Community Healing, Reflection & Meditation Garden reflects ETHIC’s ongoing commitment to preserving history, strengthening community connections and creating opportunities for reflection and healing.
By bringing people together through remembrance and a shared commitment to peace, the initiative honors the past while helping to build a more hopeful future for the Mississippi Delta.
For more information about ETHIC and its programs, visit the museum’s website at emmett-till-ethic.org and Facebook page.
Editor's note: Other photos from the Oct. 24 event are available here.
