By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

Jemison Intermediate School and Jemison Elementary School are combining efforts to construct a Wall of Tribute retaining wall on a hillside located between the two schools.

Their Buy-A-Brick campaign is raising the funds, which will benefit both the wall’s construction and further landscaping expenses of the schools.

PTO Director Laura Griffin said both principals have landscaping goals.

“They want fencing around the upper parking lot, some type of drainage system for the bottom of the left side of the hill and… keeping up the playgrounds and other grounds on campus,” Griffin said.

Community members are encouraged to participate by purchasing a personalized 4-by-8 inches brick.

“It’s to serve both schools, but it’s also to serve the community,” Griffin said.

JIS Principal DJ Nix is intent on “building a legacy,” Griffin said.

With this community goal in mind, Griffin said the Wall of Tribute is “a win-win for everyone.”

“We are just wanting the alumni to truly step up and contribute what they can to make this happen,” Griffin said. “It’s going to be a yearlong campaign, so we just want everybody to think of getting a brick in memorial or thanksgiving or in honor of someone for their family—especially the folks who have attended Jemison and helped grow the school system.”

Sponsors have been a great help so far, Griffin said.

Vulcan Materials donated 50 tons of rock for the wall, Tracy Johns, technology coach at JIS, said.

Other sponsors and contributors include:

• Boozer Farms
• United Rentals
• The City of Jemison
• Brittany and Kyle Thomas
• Jennifer and Jordan Smith
• Brett Benson
• Neil Griffin
• Billy Rasberry
• Julie and Matthew Lawrence
• Alan Caton
• Eddie Reed

“Right now we do have some immediate need of top soil and sod to be donated. We have had a lot of people step up, but as we got working on it, we noticed that we didn’t quite have all of the materials needed,” Griffin said, explaining that the materials are imperative to keeping the bricks and stones in place.

Construction of the retaining wall with the bricks of tribute will likely commence in May after the close of the campaign, Griffin said.

Bricks can be purchased for $50 with text alone, or for $60 with clipart included.

Order forms are located online at https://polarengraving.com/JemisonIntermediateandJemisonElementary.