Hello, my name is Jenny Jacobs. I’m so pleased you discovered The Cross by the Side of the Road, our website dedicated to the roadside monuments to loved ones lost.

I have to give credit where it is due; the idea for this site came from my mom. On a trip with my dad to visit my brother at college, they noticed many crosses along the roadside. They witnessed an impressive number and variety of these homemade monuments that dot the landscape of our country. When they returned, we discussed how each cross is a representation of a life tragically taken too soon. The decoration and care of each of these heartfelt memorials spoke of the love and dedication of those who erected them. During the conversation we began to think about the stories behind the memorials and how they could be shared to honor those lost while helping those left behind with their grief.

And then we thought of a Web site.

The purpose of this site is to give a face and legacy to the lives that were lost at these locations…a loving tribute to each individual represented by a cross or monument. Beyond that, this site will become an outlet for loved ones to set up a memorial, share their stories and ease their pain. It is my sincere hope it will become a place where people throughout our society may connect and comfort each other as they go through the grieving process.Please be assured that this site is not intended to place blame or exploit those who have lost their lives. It is meant to be a celebration of those precious lives. Real people with real lives, whose loving tributes will hopefully heal, inspire and urge you to share your tributes.          

 I would love to hear your story.  Whether your loved one died years ago or recently, this site is meant to be a tribute to a life lost too soon.  To contribute a story, click on the “log in” link on the left-hand side of the page.  You will be emailed a password with the login name of your choice.  Simply log in to the site and you will then be able to submit a story.  You may also email the story to thecrossbythesideoftheroad@gmail.com.