Jenny Melton was a remarkable young woman who left an amazing impression on everyone she met.  Jenny was tragically killed in an automobile accident just a few months before she was to graduate from West Hall High School.  Yet, her life, not her death, inspired many to take action.  Jenny was an active member of the Beta Club and led through service.  This legacy made both an impact on the community and our chapter.  Within a few days of her death, volunteers from the student body and the community came together to create lasting memories of her life and carry on her love of service.  Our Beta Club chapter led the way with the creation of the Jenny Melton Memorial Garden.

2012 commemorated the tenth anniversary of Jenny’s death and the creation of the garden.   Along with this anniversary, our Beta chapter refocused our service efforts and began to grow our club membership. As part of this growth, we began to revitalize the garden that sits at the entrance of our school. It had become overgrown and the design elements were not clear. With the help of a master gardener, we created a solid plan for the garden and spent three work days cleaning out weeds and planting new life. The spring of 2012 brought beautiful color back to the garden, and students began to find it as a place to gather and enjoy the beautiful spring afternoons. In one corner, we created a butterfly garden; a fitting tribute to the beautiful spirit that inspired the project.

Along with honoring the memory of Jenny, the garden also serves as a memorial to other fallen classmates. We have created handmade tile memorial stones honoring these students’ memories. Club members have also created a log of these stones that include the class, picture, and sentiments about the fallen student. The log is archived at the school serving as a sort of living historical document.

Jenny wrote in an essay soon before her death, “I want to be a warm, loving, cheerful person that people enjoy being around.” We want the garden to be a place of love and warmth at our school. We want it to be a place of cheer, joy and new life. The garden serves as a symbol of life and beauty.