Jerome James Tyson, J.J.
October 23, 1974 – November 3, 2013
Honoring a Great Man
The process of designing a square to honor a loved one whom has passed is never easy. As our family talked about J.J.’s memorial square, many things were discussed. Fishing, hunting, and motorcycles because these were his hobbies; a lawnmower or lawn equipment because that was his dream – his own business. Although all of those things would have been appropriate and a true symbolic statement of who JJ was, nothing symbolizes him more than his family and his amazing love and care of others.
The background of the square was cut from a t-shirt he received as a student and then teacher at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute where he made many supportive friends. The four hands in the middle were cut from a Father’s Day gift from years ago not only represent his loving wife, Melissa, and his three children, Felicia, Billy and Shelby for which J.J. was very proud of, but hold many other meanings. They represent the way J.J. loved to use his hands to help others, build and design gadgets for his business, and how those strong hands made sure his family was taken care of, about hard work, or as the first person anyone called when they needed a helping hand, with car and household repairs, or even just an ear to listen. The heart in the middle represents the love he had for Missy and family they built together, along with the love he had for the rest of his family and friends. The heart is the greatest representation of J.J. – a “rough” exterior, but truly the softest, kindest, and most loving heart imaginable. He was the very best Dad, Husband, Son, Brother, Uncle, Friend – HANDS DOWN!