January 16, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
A Liberty mother who lost her daughter 21 years ago continues to honor her memory each Christmas by helping others through “The Tree of Precious Memories”.
Through community donations, Audrey Martin said “The Tree of Precious Memories” has touched many in need both young and old. With each donation in honor or remembrance, a name is placed on an ornament for the tree and lifted up to the Lord in prayer on Christmas eve. The Tree is set up every Thanksgiving at Martin’s front door for all to see and its taken down on New Year’s Eve.
“I started this project with the Lord after the death of my daughter Gidget DeShealea Ashford Patterson, who passed away in 2002. Gidget was a kind and loving person who never met a stranger. Through her death God told me to help the children and of course I asked How? And within 3 months after her passing the Tree of Precious Memories was born,” said Martin.
“Through the years the donations by all have helped many children and some elderly that I am told need help. It could not have been possible without the support of the devoted and caring people of DeKalb County and surrounding areas,” Martin explained.
“This past year the Tree was so beautiful with all the names of loved ones, those who have passed or in Honor of those in need of prayer. It was once again a great success and I was very much humbled to see so many people step up to help those in need,” explained Audrey.
“Every name on the Tree goes with every gift that is given to those in need. The Tree of Precious Memories has helped to ease my pain with the loss of Gidget and it has helped others in ensuring the precious memories of their loved ones live on,” Martin said.
“The Tree of Precious Memories is made possible through the loving and caring people like you and I would like to take this time and thank all who donated to the Tree of Precious Memories this past year and who they thought of in prayer, honored, or remembered,” said Martin.
Emma Flesher, Memory of Gidget and Rachael Richardson
Gerald and Peggy Tate, Honor of Lainey Rose Tate
Clear Fork Methodist Church, Prayer for Israel
Ms. Sherell, Memory of Dorothy Long
Charotte Bratten, Memory of Louise, Charlie, and Chuck Sparks
J.D. Bratten, Memory of Larry Bratten
Jacob Hale, Honor of Gloria Hale
Alexandria Methodist Church, Prayer for the White family
Paul and Judy White, Prayer for Cody White and family
Brush Creek Methodist Church, Prayer for all
Gary Crook, Honor of Noelle
Mr. & Mrs Scott Haugh, Prayers for everybody
Ms. Kyra, Memory of Robert Watkins
Tammy Pack, Memory of Billy Pack
Amanda Vaughn, Memory of Effie Lee Ellis
Melody Carpenter Jaquinta, Honor of Mary Jane Carpenter and Craig Carpenter
JC Driver, Prayers for all in need
Debra Malone, Prayer for the world
Sean Driver, Memories of Onie Driver, Ethel Gothard, Jean Clayton, and Peggy and Joe Hale
Brittany, Memory of Helen Wilson
Shannon Cantrell, Memory of Prentice Cantrell
David Taylor, Prayer for all the Taylor family
Dewain (Ace Hardware), Prayers for Walt Stock
Danny Hale, Prayers for the world
Steve (dispatch S-Dept.), Honor of Jeffery Sean
Pokey, Prayers for DeKalb County Sheriff Dept.
Buck & Buck Attorney, Prayers for Frank Buck
Vester Parsley, Memory of Josie and Clayton Parsley
Bratten (Butch) Cook, Prayer for family
Daniel Seber, Memory of James and David Seber
Alexandria Auto Parts, Memory of Jack Underhill, Prayers for Faye Underhill
Suzanne Slagger, Memory of Judy Robertson
Woodbury Ins. Agency, Memory of James Hancock, Brenda Hord
Cantrell’s Furniture, Prayers for Stacey
B&G Supply, Prayers for family
Woodbury Funeral Home, Prayers for the world
Charles & Judy Anderson, Prayer for our Military Soldiers
The Tree went up with In Memory of Gidget Ashford, Bobby Charles Martin, Donna Kay Florida, Sandra Lee Brown, Jim and Novella Brown, Susie Gerrell Merriman, and Julana Martin.