SHELBY COUNTY CRIME VICTIMS & RAPE CRISIS CENTER TO HOST ANNUAL GARDEN OF LIGHTS MEMORIAL
NEWS from the Shelby County Mayor’s Office
Mickell M. Lowery, Mayor
Vasco A. Smith, Jr., Administration Building
11th Floor, 160 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2026
Kyla Rice
Communications Specialist
Mobile: 901.659.3495
Office: 901.222.2015
Email: [email protected]
SHELBY COUNTY CRIME VICTIMS & RAPE CRISIS CENTER TO HOST ANNUAL GARDEN OF LIGHTS MEMORIAL
Memorial will honor homicide victims and provide a space for survivors and families to reflect, remember, and heal.
Shelby County, TN – The Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center’s Cross Services Team will host its annual Garden of Lights Memorial on Friday, September 25, 2026, in recognition of the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.
The memorial will take place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Memphis Botanic Garden and will bring together survivors, families, community members, and partner agencies to honor the lives of those lost to homicide in Shelby County.
The Garden of Lights serves as a sanctuary for survivors, providing a peaceful environment where they can mourn, celebrate the legacies of their loved ones, and continue their healing journey. Upon arrival, attendees are welcomed by staff and guided along an anonymously donated brick walkway lined with solar lights. Each light symbolizes a life lost to homicide, creating a pathway representing love, hope, and courage.
About the Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center
The Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center provides support and services to victims and survivors of crime in Shelby County. Through programs including its Homicide Response Program, the Center works to support individuals and families as they navigate grief, trauma, and the healing process following violent crime.
Cherry Whitehead-Thompson, Interim Division Director of the Division of Community Services: “During this annual ceremony, we honor the lives lost to violence by creating a space of reflection, encouragement, and support for all who continue to mourn. Our hope is that every person in attendance leaves feeling seen, cared for, and gently held by the community."
Stephanie E. Williams, Deputy Director of the Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center: “The Garden of Lights is more than a memorial-each light represents a life that mattered, and it is our privilege to honor those lives while standing with the loved ones who continue to carry their memories forward.”
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The Office of the Shelby County Mayor provides executive leadership for Shelby County Government, overseeing strategic planning and budgeting while collaborating with the mayors of Shelby County’s seven municipalities and community partners to advance shared priorities. Through the One Shelby agenda, the administration brings people, communities, and partners together to strengthen education, healthcare access, economic opportunity, public safety, and quality of life through collaborative leadership, accountable government, and measurable results for all Shelby Countians.
(End of Release)
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