Program Timeline
Joy of Compassion
February 14, 2002
February 14th, Flowers to Widows founded with retired widowed school teacher Ethel Lockart Jordan as first recipient. She received a surprise of a dozen red roses in memory of her late husband Obadiah Jordan. It turned her from a depressed recluse to embracing life again.
September 11, 2002
September 11th, First Responders Appreciation Program was founded launching at fire station #25 – Benjamin E. Mays Drive with Captain El Shahid and staff as first recipients delivering a thank you card and food basket.
September 11, 2003
First year Victoria Travis Jackson (left), one of the two inspirations behind the creation of J&V Cares, Inc. led prayers for the safety of first responders. She is joined at fire station 25, Benjamin E. Mays, Drive by program founder and daughter Audraine Jackson and radio personality Silas “Si-Man Baby” Alexander.
February 14, 2004
Louise Thornton Hollowell, widow of revered civil rights attorney Donald Lee Hollowell was surprised with a bouquet in memory of her husband. Mr. Hollowell headed litigation that opened the doors of the University of Georgia to blacks. First year Fulton County Police were added to the First Responders Appreciation program.
September 14, 2004
Susan Venable lost a husband and son when a mentally deranged man broke into heir home. She showed incredible compassion forgiving the assailant. This was the first-year widowers received surprise flowers delivered in the memory of a loved one to Judge Alford Dempsey who lost his wife to cancer.
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March 11, 2005
In March 2005 defendant Brian Nichols escaped during trail stealing a weapon and going on a killing spree that took the lives of four people and seriously wounding a sheriff’s deputy. Flowers to Widows honored the widows left behind including Claudia Barnes, widow of Judge Rowland Barnes, Deborah Teasley widow of slain deputy sheriff Hoyt Teasley and Candee Wilhelm whose husband David was a federal agent. Christina Scholte was a student at Auburn when her mother, court reporter Julie Brandau was slain. She also received flowers in her memory.
February 14, 2006
Katie Collier became the youngest Flowers to Widows recipient when husband Jason, a team member of the Atlanta Hawks, unexpectedly passes away at age 28 due to cardiac arrest.
September 11, 2006
Publix becomes community partner for First Responders when partner Wayfield Foods closes its deli department.
February 14, 2007
First time a son was remembered when Ms. Genie P. Reese lost her son DiMario Gibson.
February 14, 2008
Ruth Evelyn McGuire is a Flowers to Widows recipient when husband Dennis becomes victim of an Atlanta serial killer
September 11, 2009
City of Atlanta District 10 Councilman C.T. Martin partners to support and help sponsor First Responders.
September 11, 2009
More locations were added to the recognition list for first responders, expanding the program’s reach.
November 12, 2012
City of Atlanta Police officers Richard Halford and Shawn Smiley are lost in the line of duty when their helicopter crashed while searching for a missing child.
February 14, 2013
Flowers to Widows recognizes the widows of City of Atlanta officers Halford and Smiley killed in the line of duty. Ms. Azira Hill, widow of late civil rights activist Jesse Hill, Jr. becomes a recipient.
September 11, 2013
First time the Flowers to Widows program coordinated with celebrities to deliver flowers in person with a surprise delivery to Congressman John Lewis in memory of his wife Lillian Miles Lewis.
September 11, 2013
First responders program honors the bravery of officers Halford & Smiley through prayers, and solemn remembrance at the Atlanta Police Helicopter Unit hanger.
September 11, 2013
First public recognition of officers slain in the line of duty when colleague Patrick Magram appears on Radio One to talk about the bravery of officers Halford and Smiley.
February 14, 2015
Ms. Helen Bellamy, widow of NBA Hall of Fame player Walt Bellamy is a Flowers to Widows recipient.
March 4, 2015
Fulton County officer Terence A. Green is slain in the line of duty answering a domestic dispute call.
February 14, 2016
Flowers to Widows Chevelle Green, Widow of Officer Terence Green is one of four widows of officers from four jurisdictions receiving a bouquet of flowers in memory.
September 5, 2016
Through efforts of citywide Councilman Michael Julian Bond, City of Atlanta Honors program founder Audraine Jackson.
September 11, 2016
First Responders Appreciation program honors the life of slain Officer Terence Avery Green.
February 14, 2017
Lisa Barney, widow of Riverdale Police Officer Greg Barney becomes a Flowers to Widows recipient.
March 30, 2017
Atlanta Fire fighters battle massive I-85 Bridge fire and collapse emergency.
September 11, 2017
First Responders Appreciation program honors the bravery of firefighters who fought the I-85 Bridge fire and collapse emergency.
February 15, 2018
State of Georgia Senate recognizes First Responders Program founder Audraine Jackson
September 11, 2018
First year 9-11 First Responders Appreciation program recognizes first responders under the newly formed City of South Fulton, Georgia.
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June 3, 2019
J&V Cares, Inc is organized as a Georgia 501C3 nonprofit organization to administer the Flowers to Widows and September 11th First Responders Appreciation programs.
Board Officers
Audraine Jackson
Board Chair/President/Founder
Lt. Hattie Cotton-Tukes
Secretary
Silas “Si-Man Baby: Alexander
Member
Our work
Flowers to Widows
Flowers to Widows recognizes the power of love and its impact on humans when it is acknowledged through the delivery of beautiful flowers in the memory of a loved one
9-11 First Responders Appreciation
To annually show gratitude and recognize those everyday heroes who are often taken for granted.