Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy is routinely named the region's best writer by readers of The Roanoker magazine.

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The small Japanese maple in front of Mount Pleasant Elementary School may be the most tended tree in Roanoke County.

It was planted in the fall of 2002 in memory of Jeffrey Alan "JAC" Cranford.

JAC, the only child of Jeff and Susan Cranford, died Oct. 30, 2002. He had gone to Mount Pleasant since 1996. He was a member of special ed teacher Tara Davidson's small class of severely disabled children.

JAC had cerebral palsy. He died of kidney failure.

But he lives on through his tree, thanks not only to the school's PTA, teachers, students and principal, but especially to a man who never knew JAC.

His name is Royce Wickham. He owns RK's Landscaping.

At the time of JAC's death, Wickham's son Christopher attended Mount Pleasant and belonged to Cub Scout Den 269.

Wickham was the Scoutmaster.

JAC's class wanted to plant a tree in his memory after he died.

Asked to help, Wickham immediately agreed.

Above and beyond

Using funds provided by the PTA, the landscaper purchased the tree and, with Christopher and others, planted it about a month later.

When the weather turned harsh, Wickham covered the tree and surrounded it with mulch to keep it alive.

End of story?

Not nearly.

For many years, Ellen Walton, Mount Pleasant's principal, worried about the safety of children leaving their parents' vehicles at the drop-off point mere feet from Mount Pleasant Boulevard, in front of the school.

The drivers parked nose-in. They had to back into the road to leave.

Walton often had asked that something be done.

Avoiding the threat

In May, while students took the state Standards of Learning tests, crews came and created a circular driveway so drivers can pull off the road to discharge their young passengers.

The driveway takes up much of the ground in front of the building, including the spot formerly occupied by JAC's tree and the garden that surrounded it.

Hoping to save the tree, Walton suggested it be transplanted to the school's courtyard, inside the school's walls.

The Cranfords said, "We couldn't come during the weekends and visit JAC's garden."

Another spot, outside the school's walls, was chosen.

Susan Cranford called Wickham. He and Christopher, now a Boy Scout, and others removed the tree. Wickham nurtured it at home for about a month.

Not long ago, he and others replanted it.

On Thursday, with its leaves partly green and partly red, the small tree stood on one side of the circular drive.

Other plants, some from the original garden, stood nearby.

After JAC died, the Cranfords moved back to their hometown of Athens, Ga.

They returned to Salem about two years ago.

"Me and my husband go [to see the tree] all the time," Susan Cranford said. "We sit and think about how wonderful that school was."

Walton says the people at her school have an uncommon bond, but deflects the credit. With classes from preschool through fifth grade, Mount Pleasant has only about 300 students, some of whom are from families who are far from wealthy.

It's the kind of place where teachers can become close to the kids and the kids to one another.

Tara Davidson grew close to JAC and his family.

"When my son died, her and her husband came to Georgia to the funeral," Susan Cranford said. "I talk with her at least twice a month."

Wickham is a prime example of the school's spirit. Although he no longer has children there, he remains devoted to the tree.

"He actually came by earlier [Thursday] to make sure it was doing all right," Walton said.

The tree appears to be OK, Wickham said.

He shrugs off all praise.

"I'm kind of proud I got to be part of the school," he said, "and help the school remember JAC."