A Monument of Hope: Remembering a Life Cut Short

In Starkville’s Patriot Park, a cherry blossom tree stands out, not just for its beauty but for its symbolism. This special tree represents a much loved, forever missed member of the local community – Laterrance McCarter.

Tragically, McCarter became a victim of gun violence at the tender age of 23 on November 26, 2019. The cherry blossom tree is his memorial, planted as part of the unique memorial tree planting program launched by Judicial District 16 District Attorney Scott Colom.

Offering Healing Through Nature

Back in January 2020, Colom’s office began offering families of gun violence victims within his jurisdiction – covering Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay, and Noxubee counties – an opportunity to plant a tree or rose bush in memory of their loved ones. To date, the program has planted almost 25 trees or bushes across these areas.

“The criminal justice system gives you legal closure and justice through prosecution and punishment and deterrence. But it doesn’t necessarily help with the emotional healing required when you lose a loved one to gun violence,” Colom stated. He believes that the lasting presence of a tree or bush symbolizes the enduring nature of grief and the survivors’ resilience.

Providing Solace and Sending a Message

Victims’ families have the flexibility to decide the planting time and location, often choosing significant dates such as birthdays or death anniversaries. Knowing that someone acknowledges their pain and seeks to offer solace through this program is of immense comfort to them.

While primarily aiming to provide hope to the bereaved, the program also has a secondary goal – deterring potential perpetrators of gun violence. By publicizing the tree planting, Colom hopes to send a powerful message about the lasting pain and trauma inflicted on survivors of gun violence victims.

Funding Hope, Future Plans

Completely funded through Colom’s office, efforts are now underway to establish a program that aims to give financial aid to children whose parents have fallen victim to gun violence.

“The legal system spends a lot of energy and effort and resources trying to prosecute the person, but there’s not a lot of help out there for the survivors,” Colom pointed out. He hopes this financial aid will help support not only the emotional recovery of these children but also their financial recovery.

Words of Wisdom from Experience

As one who has known the unique grief of losing a loved one to gun violence, Jennie Mosby, mother of Laterrance McCarter, offers advice to families in similar circumstances. She advocates for faith, unity, and continuous outreach as a community.

“Don’t lose faith, even though it’s hard,” Mosby encourages. She also emphasizes the importance of being the voice of the departed loved one in the community, educating and interacting with the youth to make them aware of the severe implications of gun violence. She believes in collective responsibility as a community, regardless of race or color, in guiding the children in the right direction.