Many family members and friends gathered at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Friday, June 12, to honor the life and memory of Rebecca Josephine “Becky Jo” (BJ) Moles. Becky Jo’s Legacy Tree stands proudly in a beautifully landscaped garden bed at the entrance to the park.

The memorial was created through the generous donations made in her memory, serving as a lasting tribute to her life and the impact she had on those who knew and loved her.

Friends from Keep Morristown-Hamblen Beautiful (KMHB), P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization), First Presbyterian Church and many other organizations and community groups joined the gathering.

Together, they shared heartfelt stories and memories, reflecting on the countless ways Becky Jo touched lives through her kindness, friendship, service and dedication to her community.

Tree Board Chairperson Dawn Cantwell spoke about the Legacy Tree program, which offers individuals and families a meaningful way to honor loved ones by donating memorial trees throughout the city.

She explained that the Kwanzan Cherry tree, chosen for Becky Jo’s memorial, “primarily symbolizes renewal, celebration, prosperity and the fleeting beauty of life.

Known for its exuberant, vibrant pink double blooms, the tree serves as a cultural emblem of friendship, spring, and new beginnings.”

Randy Moles heartily agreed that the selected tree was a most appropriate memorial of his late wife and said he was sure she was looking down on the gathering with a smile. Randy and BJ had been together since their high school days, sharing a lifetime of joy.

Becky Jo’s sisters, Susan, Mary Ellen and Winnie, along with their parents, Murrell and Joan Weesner, have been an integral part of Morristown- contributing to the community for generations.

Becky Jo was a longtime substitute teacher who always had something interesting and meaningful to share, an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, dedicated to lifelong learning, and, until her untimely death, the Executive Director of Keep Morristown- Hamblen Beautiful.

Through these roles and the example she set in her daily life, Becky Jo shared her passion for learning, commitment to her community, care for the environment and devotion to her family and friends.

Her family and friends are grateful for the beautiful addition to the park in her name and know that she lives on in the many lives she touched.

The Legacy Tree Program was created in 2005 as a partnership between the Morristown Tree Board and Keep Morristown-Hamblen Beautiful to increase Morristown’s urban tree canopy by placing trees in public places. Trees can be donated in honor or memory of individuals or groups.

Legacy Trees are planted, marked and maintained by the Morristown Tree Board, the Natural Resources Department and Parks and Recreation. For more information on the Legacy Tree Program, please call 423-585-1830 or visit the City’s website at mymorristown.com.