Trending
WARREN -- The Garden of Hope was added in 1999 to the property at Second Baptist Church in Warren and now there are plans to add to the memorial.
A community picnic pavilion to remember Maj. Timothy Raimey, a veteran who died a year ago and wanted to see additions to the garden, will be built.
A groundbreaking ceremony with members of Raimey's family as well as city officials and church members took place Sunday off 1510 Main Ave. SW.
Pastor Todd Johnson of Second Baptist Church said, "We want to add to the garden and beautify this historic property with a pavilion.
"The Raimey family has helped see this vision through," he said.
Raimey's wife, Tammera of Warren, and their children, TJ of Altanta and Sharee Reiner of West Virginia, were among those helping with the groundbreaking ceremony.
Reiner brought nearly 300 flowers from her family's flower farm in West Virginia to sell and add to the garden.
TJ Raimey said his father died in 2022, and when his mother told him the plan for the garden and all the support for the family from people in Warren, "I felt that love in Georgia and I am sure my sister would say the same from West Virginia."
He said his father also was supportive of mentorship. He hopes once the pavilion is built, young people can receive mentorship from people at the church and in the community.
Tim Raimey desired an outdoor space where the church and community could gather for fellowship and outreach in the neighborhood.
"We can't thank you enough," TJ said. "This is truly a blessing to see one of my father's huge passions come to fruition in this Garden of Hope."
Because the church does not have its own pavilion, it rents one at other parks and locations.
Johnson said Tim Raimey died Oct. 1, 2022, and he said on the one-year anniversary of his death, ground should be broken for the project.
RIBBON CUTTING
Plans are to have a ribbon cutting for the pavilion Nov. 12 as part of the church's 107th anniversary festivities.
"Tim was a military man who had a mission, and we are carrying out this mission with this project," Johnson said. "We will finish his final mission of earthly work. His work will live on for generations."
Tammera Raimey said what the church has done "is awesome. He would be honored at what is being done."
According to Johnson, a group of volunteers from the Warren Family Mission, as well as volunteers from the community and church, helped clear debris and weeds from the property Saturday.
Mayor Doug Franklin said Warren is blessed to have Johnson and other people from his church who take on projects like this.
"The legacy of Second Baptist Church has left our community with a foundation to build upon," Franklin said. "It is the community's responsibility to build upon that foundation and the city is committed to doing just that."
The Garden of Hope originally was dedicated in 1999 under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Frank Hearns as the "Community Center Garden." The garden acted as a memorial and place of rest and reflection in honor of those who had battled any form of cancer.
Under Johnson, the area was rechristened "The Garden of Hope" and expanded to include those who have faced serious illness and personal struggles.
The project is part of the church's Vision100 effort, which is a multiphase, multiyear renovation and expansion initiative.