Our Story
A Mother's Love.
A Lasting Legacy.
Say Their Names Monuments was born from one mother's determination to ensure her son's life would never be reduced to the circumstances of his death.
What began as a personal mission to honor Jaylin KeShawn Emmett McKenzie has grown into a movement dedicated to preserving the names, faces, stories, and legacies of individuals affected by violence, systemic injustice, tragedy, and unexpected loss.
We believe every name deserves to be remembered. Every family deserves to be seen. Every story deserves a place in history.
Every name. Every story. Never forgotten.
The Life That Inspired the Mission
Jaylin KeShawn Emmett McKenzie
February 6, 2002 – December 16, 2022
Forever 20. Forever Loved. Forever Remembered.
Jaylin KeShawn Emmett McKenzie
February 6, 2002 – December 16, 2022
Forever 20. Forever Loved. Forever Remembered.
More Than a Name. More Than a Headline. More Than the Way He Died.
Jaylin KeShawn Emmett McKenzie was more than a name, more than a photograph, and more than the circumstances surrounding his death.
He was a beloved son, a young man with dreams, a creative spirit, and a life filled with possibilities. Born on February 6, 2002, Jaylin had a passion for music, fashion, boxing, and creativity. He loved producing music, expressing himself through his personal style, and exploring his interests. He was also drawn to meditation, crystals, and the things that brought him peace and inspiration.
Known affectionately as J5, Jaylin had his own personality, his own vision, and his own dreams for the future. He was only beginning to discover everything life had to offer.
On December 16, 2022, Jaylin's life was tragically cut short when he was shot and killed during an encounter with police in Memphis, Tennessee. He was just 20 years old.
But December 16, 2022, does not define Jaylin's life. His story began long before that day — with the joy of his birth, the memories he created, the music he loved, the dreams he carried, and the people whose lives he touched.
For his mother, the loss of Jaylin changed everything. There would be no more birthdays celebrated together, no more conversations about his dreams, and no opportunity to watch him become the man he was growing into. But there was one thing that could never be taken away — a mother's love for her son.
That love became the foundation of something greater. Through Say Their Names Monuments, Jaylin's name continues to be spoken, his story continues to be shared, and his legacy continues to inspire remembrance, compassion, advocacy, and meaningful change.
His life became the inspiration behind a mission that would grow to honor countless other sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and loved ones.
Jaylin was here. Jaylin was loved. Jaylin mattered. And his name will never be forgotten.
You were my son before you became a story. You were my heart before you became a memory. And you will always be the reason I refuse to let their names be forgotten.
JAYLIN KESHAWN EMMETT MCKENZIE
Forever 20. Forever My Son. Forever My Reason.
Original Music
If You Could Hear Me Now
For Every Love That Lives Beyond Goodbye.
All songs written by Ashley McKenzie Smith
Now Playing
If You Could Hear Me Now
For Every Love That Lives Beyond Goodbye.
The Heart of Our Mission
More Than Remembrance. A Movement for Change.
Say Their Names Monuments exists to ensure that every person remembered through our work is honored with dignity, compassion, and respect — and that their families feel seen, supported, and connected.
We honor lives. We preserve legacies. We support families. We inspire change.
Every name represents someone who was loved.
Every family carries a story that deserves to be told.
Mission & Vision
What Drives Everything We Do
Honor. Preserve. Support. Inspire.
To honor the lives of individuals affected by violence, systemic injustice, tragedy, and unexpected loss — by preserving their names, faces, stories, and legacies through meaningful memorial experiences, community engagement, education, and advocacy.
Every life deserves to be remembered with dignity.
A World Where No Name Is Forgotten.
A world where every family impacted by loss feels seen, supported, and connected — and where the legacies of their loved ones inspire compassion, accountability, education, and meaningful change for generations to come.
Their names live on. Their stories matter.
Our Four Commitments
The Pillars of Our Work
Everything we do at Say Their Names Monuments is guided by four core commitments that shape how we serve families, honor lives, and build community.
Honor Every Life
With dignity, compassion, and respect.
We recognize the individuality, humanity, and legacy of every person remembered through our work — ensuring they are seen as a whole person, not defined by the circumstances of their death.
Support Every Family
With empathy, presence, and care.
We walk alongside families through their grief, providing meaningful opportunities to honor their loved ones and creating spaces where they feel welcomed, respected, and never alone.
Preserve Every Legacy
Through monuments, stories, and memory.
We build lasting tributes — memorial monuments, personalized keepsakes, digital remembrances, and community experiences — that ensure loved ones are never forgotten.
Inspire Meaningful Change
Through education, advocacy, and action.
We believe remembrance can be a catalyst for change. Through Creating Legacies, we transform grief into purpose — empowering youth, engaging communities, and advocating for a more just and compassionate world.
Dr. Ashley McKenzie Smith
Founder & Executive Director, Say Their Names Monuments
Meet Our Founder
Dr. Ashley McKenzie Smith
Founder & Executive Director
Dr. Ashley McKenzie Smith is a mother, community advocate, human rights consultant, and the Founder and Executive Director of Say Their Names Monuments, an Atlanta-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring lives, preserving legacies, supporting impacted families, and inspiring meaningful change.
Her journey into advocacy was forever transformed on December 16, 2022, when her beloved 20-year-old son, Jaylin KeShawn Emmett McKenzie, was shot and killed during an encounter with police in Memphis, Tennessee. In an instant, the life she knew changed forever.
What followed was not simply grief. It was a mother's determination to seek answers, fight for accountability, preserve her son's humanity, and ensure his name would never be forgotten. Dr. Smith understood that when a loved one dies under tragic circumstances, the public often remembers the incident while overlooking the person — their dreams, their accomplishments, their personality, their family, and the life they should have had the opportunity to continue living.
She refused to allow Jaylin's story to end with the circumstances of his death. From that determination, Say Their Names Monuments was born. What began as a deeply personal mission to honor her son grew into a movement dedicated to preserving the names, faces, stories, and legacies of individuals affected by violence, systemic injustice, tragedy, and unexpected loss.
Through Say Their Names Monuments, she is building opportunities for families and communities to honor loved ones through memorial monuments, personalized tributes, remembrance experiences, community engagement, education, prevention, and advocacy. In 2027, that vision continues to expand through Creating Legacies — a signature initiative built around four divisions: Memorial Makers, Legacy Workshop Series, Youth Legacy Lab, and Community Impact.
Dr. Smith's work is guided by one deeply personal understanding: every name represents someone who was loved, every family carries a story, and every life deserves dignity. Her mission is not only to preserve memories of those who have passed but also to create meaningful opportunities for the generations and communities they leave behind.
"I never imagined that losing my son would lead me down this path. I would give anything to have Jaylin here with me. But since I cannot change what happened, I am determined to make sure his life continues to have meaning. Say Their Names Monuments was created from a mother's love, but it has become a mission for every family carrying the memory of someone they love."
Our Promise to Families
Your Loved One Matters.
Your Story Matters. You Matter.
At Say Their Names Monuments, we recognize that every life is unique and every family's journey is personal. Our commitment is to provide a welcoming and respectful environment where families can honor their loved ones with dignity.
We Honor Every Life
We recognize the individuality, humanity, and legacy of every person remembered through our work.
We Walk Alongside Families
We provide compassionate support and meaningful opportunities for families to honor their loved ones at every step.
We Preserve Their Stories
We ensure that every name, face, and story entrusted to us is preserved with care, dignity, and lasting respect.
We Create Spaces for Healing
We build community experiences where families feel seen, supported, connected, and never alone in their grief.
We Inspire Meaningful Change
We believe that honoring lives can become a foundation for education, advocacy, and a more compassionate world.
This is our promise to every family who trusts us with their loved one's legacy.
Every name. Every story.
Every life remembered.
Never forgotten.
Our Commitment
Their Names Live On.
Our Work Continues.
Say Their Names Monuments was built on a foundation of love, loss, and an unwavering belief that every life matters — and that every family deserves to have their loved one remembered with dignity.
We are committed to honoring the past, supporting the present, and building a future where compassion, accountability, and meaningful change protect the lives still here.
Every name. Every story.
Never forgotten.
Say Their Names Monuments — Atlanta, Georgia