The marker inside the Amelia Mary Memorial Garden at Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, bears the name of Ellen and Stephen Cocks’ deceased daughter Grace. Photo By Michael Alexander

The wall of plaques at the Amelia Mary Memorial Garden at Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, stopped me in my tracks.  (View the garden here.)

I was there to report on my most recent InDepth piece on how Atlanta Catholics are finding a new practice that consoles the living.

At the garden, you see 139 names, each remembered on a small bronze memorial marker. Each name has a history, although some too brief, and behind the name are countless others whose heart the deceased touched. Certainly what gave me pause are the names that start out with ‘Baby’ or by scanning the wall, you can read the ages of birth and death that tell you how it was a life short-lived.

It is only since becoming a father myself, 16 months ago, that changed my perspective from  my head – oh, that’s a shame – to a reaction in my gut –  (I imagine myself retching with grief).  

Ellen Cocks is one of those parents who buried a youngster in this beautiful garden. Her daughter died days after her birth from complications related to a genetic disorder. In her words: http://bit.ly/GB-19XuKr2

Fernando Ochoa said the garden is a place of joy and life, even as people grieve. The remains of his mother were put in the garden. She loved Chopin so he at times plays recordings of the composer’s piano pieces. In his words: http://bit.ly/GB-19Xvah2

Tags: audio, blog

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