WESSON — The death of a young person can be a difficult timefor other youngsters, but Wesson Attendance Center students havefound a way to help ease the pain of a classmate’s death.

When Victoria Stapleton died mysteriously at a Brookhaven hotelin June at the age of 16, her classmates looked for answers and away to let her cheerful spirit live on at their school. Theydecided to complete and improve upon a class project Victoria hadstarted as a tenth grader.

“Victoria was part of my Biology II class, and every year weplant a garden,” said her teacher and advisor Kate Hampton. “Shehad helped me plant the garden in front of the gym, and when shedied we went ahead and finished it.”

Victoria’s junior classmates were grateful for a way to honorher.

“I love the garden. Mrs. Kate really touched my heart forthinking about it,” said junior Jjuana Stewart, who was Victoria’sbest friend.

The garden has an extra special meaning for Stewart because itwas the last place she saw her friend, who sometimes referred toher as a sister.

“She was born on Nov. 28 and my birthday was Nov. 1, so shealways said she was my older sister. She even gave me a little sis’charm,” Stewart said.

During the last few months, students tried to bring more beautyto the garden by keeping it up and adding a few personal items.

Cement stones, decorated and made by Hampton’s chemistry class,lead to an angel statue in the middle of “Victoria’s Garden.”

“My tech-prep class decided they wanted to buy a statue for it,so those students and the juniors collected and donated money forit,” Hampton said.

The students worked on the project during their study hallperiod, and some even stayed after school to help pour the concreteslab under the angel statue.

A plaque reading “Victoria Stapleton Class of 2003” was alsopurchased and will be placed at the foot of the angel.

Hampton plans to have members of the science club maintain thegarden every year. She also hopes to hold a memorial service forVictoria once the plaque has been put in place.

Students at Wesson Attendance Center are also working on anotherproject near the garden to remember those who have passed away. Theseniors plan to paint a mural in memory of the victims of the Sept.11 terrorist attacks.