A community walk to raise awareness of suicide prevention will take place Oct. 23 at the Brookhaven City Park.

In 2016, Don and Brenda Townsend and Wayne and Liz Pickering lost their son Wayne Pickering Jr. to suicide.

“He was a loving father, son, brother and friend to all,” said his mother, Brenda Townsend. “He was a bright light to this world.”

In Wayne’s honor and memory, his aunt Erica Leggett and his mother formed the team “Warriors for Wayne” to raise awareness of suicide and in hopes of making a difference in the lives of others. The team joined the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention in 2017 and participated in its first “Out of the Darkness Walk” that year in Madison. The team continued the walks each year alongside many others affected by mental illness and suicide.

The team was named ‘Warriors for Wayne’ because “he was a warrior. He fought a lot of battles and he had a strong faith in God,” Townsend said.

In 2020, the Madison walk was canceled so teams participated virtually. Townsend also took the opportunity to move her team’s walk to her hometown of Brookhaven. More than two dozen people participated in the walk in City Park.

“The Warriors for Wayne team has been stepping out to raise awareness and bring hope to others who may be struggling,” said Brenda Townsend, Wayne’s mother. “They joined with many others for the AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk that was held this month in Madison. They plan to step out again in Brookhaven on Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. at the Brookhaven City Park on Hartman Street for anyone who would like to attend. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please reach out. Help is available.”

For each walk, the Warriors team has worn a specially-designed t shirt — created with the help of a local printing company — in order to help raise funds for AFSA.

Townsend said no one close to her son Wayne believed he would have taken his own life.

“Wayne was a very bright student. He graduated in 1996 with a scholarship … but took a break and went into the oil field industry,” Townsend said. “He had no problems.”

Wayne was working under the tutelage of his uncle, Townsend’s brother, and in 1998 her brother was killed during a break from work. Townsend believes his death triggered some type of trauma in her son that eventually led to him giving up hope. He left behind three children.

“But he was very spiritual. He was a very inspirational person, a light to many,” she said.

Townsend wanted to be a light to others who may be struggling and believe they do not matter to anyone.

“I just want to make a difference. I pray to make a difference,” she said.

“I know I’m not the only mom, my daughter is not the only sister, my husband is not the only father … we’re not the only ones in this,” she said. “I want to reach out to other moms, other people, and my husband feels the same. This has grown and we hope to keep growing and reach out to the community.”