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Grieving parents find hope in Starr’s Mill courtyards

One couple’s heartbreak turned into a labor of love has stretched across community and county lines to benefit students and faculty at Starr’s Mill High.

Lee and Debbie Wagner lost both their son and daughter in a car accident on Mother’s Day in May, just before the end of the school year.

Both teens were students at Starr’s Mill. Son Lee Wagner was a junior, and daughter Jillian Wagner was a senior.

This summer, the Wagners decided they wanted to do something at the school to remember their son and daughter that would also benefit all students at Starr’s Mill.

As a summer project, they decided to landscape two courtyards that had remained barren, with the exception of a few trees and shrubs, since the school opened in 1997.

As word spread about the Wagners’ plans for the courtyards, numerous people stepped up to lend a hand, including Ben Uphouse, a Boy Scout who attends Jonesboro High School in Clayton County.

“He is working on his Eagle Badge. He and his BSA Troop took one courtyard and we took the other,” said Mr. Wagner. “Ben’s group also poured the concrete pads under the soda machines” in the courtyards.

The courtyard the Wagner’s chose to work on has special meaning. Their son’s favorite class was health occupations with teacher Barbara Phillips. Lee sold snacks in that courtyard between classes to support Mrs. Phillips’ class projects.

The health occupations lab happens to overlook the courtyard the Wagners selected as their personal project. What was once barren land has now been transformed into a beautiful garden complete with a circular brick patio and memory bench in honor of Jillian and Lee.

Such a huge undertaking could have taken months to complete, but with the help of many volunteers, the courtyards were finished in time for the first day of school.

The Chimneys homeowners association supplied 25 to 30 volunteers on Saturdays to help with digging, planting and laying bricks. Others came from Cooper Lighting, Fayette Community Hospital, and Pride Medical in Atlanta.

Family members from Columbus and Macon were joined by fellow Starr’s Mill students and friends of Jillian and Lee.

The Wagners had special words of thanks to everyone who helped, especially two local businesses: Andy’s Nursery and Georgia Blend Brick Work.

They also thanked Principal Sam Sweat, who has been supportive of their efforts.

“Sam always knows exactly what to say and when to say it. He has been there for us through it all and we cannot thank him enough for his kindness and support,” said Mr. Wagner.

The senior class at Starr’s Mill held a dedication of the memorial courtyard on August 26. Lee would have been a senior this year.

While the courtyard was done in memory of their son and daughter, the Wagner’s say they want the area to be functional and not something just to view.

“We bought an outdoor storage closet and put 30 plastic chairs in it so that students can have meetings and classes out there. We want the courtyard to be a functional place and not something that students just point to and look at. Nothing would make Debbie and I happier than if we came to water the lawn and had to wait until a class finished,” said Mr. Wagner.

The Wagners said they hope their efforts will encourage others to volunteer their time and talents at a school in their community.