In his work as a hospice chaplain, Harold Peacock has become aware of how important it is for people who have suffered the loss of a loved one to share their feelings with others who have similar losses.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of memorial services for our Agape Hospice Care patients,” Peacock said. “Jeff Wegner, our other hospice chaplain, and I decided maybe we needed a countywide memorial service, because some families haven’t been involved in hospice programs.”

They hope the Community Memorial Program will become an annual affair. The first service has been scheduled for Saturday, March 9, at 2 p.m. at the WPA Building auditorium on Highway 27 North in Carrollton at the West Chandler Street intersection.

The theme of the program is “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”

“If you’ve lost a loved one in the past year, you’re invited to attend,” Peacock said.

Peacock and Wagner were able to get sponsorship for their program from all the local funeral homes in a 35-mile radius, along with help from several florists, supermarkets and the Chick-fil-A restaurant. The program is being hosted by Agape Hospice Care Inc.

Anyone planning to attend should RSVP by March 4, with the number of family members planning to attend and the name and date of death of the person to be memorialized. The phone number to call is 678-664-0252, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration can also be made by e-mail, agapehospice.info@gmail.com.

“This consent is necessary so we can publish the deceased person’s name in our program,” he said. “Each registered family will receive a gift from one of our local business sponsors.”

Peacock will deliver the introduction and welcome comments, followed by an opening prayer.

The Carroll County Community Chorus, conducted by Charles Allen, will sing “Amazing Grace.”

This will be followed with reading and response, recognizing those who have been lost and acknowledging them for the lives they lived and the memories they leave for people in the community.

A scripture reading from Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us,” will be given by Andy Brandscum, a hospice volunteer.

Trey Morrison, hospice chaplain from Atlanta, will deliver the message. Morrison has worked in several Atlanta churches as youth counselor and college coordinator. He led in the development of the coffee house ministry in midtown Atlanta from 1999-2005. He is presently on the staff at Agape Hospice in the Atlanta area.

Morrison is a graduate of Baylor University and McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. He was licensed by the First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas, in 1989 and is currently pursuing ordination by the Student in Care process in the Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ.

After the message, the Carroll County Community Chorus will sing, “Precious Memories,” followed by a candle lighting ceremony, led by Judi Edens, Camesia Bailey-Mayes and Mandy McCormick.

“If anyone is present, but doesn’t want to come forward to light the candle, the name will be read and we’ll have someone light the candle for them,” said Gary Smith, program administrator.

The closing prayer and benediction will be given by Wegner, followed by special music of Carroll County Community Chorus. Refreshments will be served after the program.