Students at Athens Bible School came back to school this year with a new courtyard legacy garden. Names of students or names in the memory of loved ones can be permanently engraved in bricks in the legacy garden.

The garden takes the place of weathered playground equipment that was no longer in use.

The school recently sent forms out into the community for people to purchase name-engraved bricks to place in the garden. The school plans to pave the entire garden with the bricks.

Barbara Jo Webb, head of public relations for ABS, said she has heard several parents talking about buying a brick with their child’s name on it.

“I think that will be neat as the kids grow,” said Webb. “They know that they will always be a part of it.”

A small greenhouse has been added at the back of the garden and is used in the recently added botany class at ABS.

“We are constantly thriving to improve our campus,” Webb said. “We are extending the academic program by adding the botany class and it’s actually been very popular.”

Colleen Anderson, a member of the botany class and a senior at ABS, said she feels the garden is a fun project for her senior class and for the rest of the students there.

She said she looks forward to seeing the bricks fill in the area.

“It’ll be pretty and it’s kind of fun, too, because it’s something from our year,” she said. “I think it’ll be neat to watch it progress.”

Junior, Tyler Claxton, is a member of the botany class, as well. However, he has a personal interest in the garden. His father, Jeff Claxton, donated several plants for the garden in memory of his mother, Robbie Claxton, who was a former teacher at ABS.

Tyler said his grandmother would have liked this very much. He said she loved the school where she taught and her children and grandchildren attended.

“Dad donated these trees for her. It’s something for her to be remembered by,” he said. “I think she’d think it’s a good thing for the school. She had a huge rose garden out behind her house.”

Several of the concerts and events are held in the auditorium and the public will pass through the garden on the way to events.

“I think the community will be excited to come out here and see the garden when they come to concerts and other events,” said Webb.

A 4-inch by 8-inch brick can be purchased for $50 and an 8-inch by 8-inch brick can be purchased for $75.

Money left after buying and installing the bricks will be used to beautify the campus. Donations for additional lighting and benches for the Legacy Garden are needed, as well.

Some of the proceeds from brick sales will go to the Adopt-A-Student account, an account set aside for students who want to attend private school but cannot afford to.

“Our campus has been here since 1943,” Webb said. “We are gong to make cosmetic improvements to the campus. We would also like to put some extra money into [the Adopt-A-Student] account so students who want to go here can do that.”

To purchase a brick or donate to the Legacy Garden project, call Barbara Jo Webb at 232-3525 or 431-7947.