Henry Daily Herald

McDONOUGH — Barbara Frazier’s voice broke as she spoke about the thousands of hours and emotions she poured into the scenes commemorating 9/11.

Frazier described her feelings on the different works she has painted since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. She pointed to a piece called “The Day America Cried as One.”

“That particular one is a group of people across the river from New York City,” said Frazier. “They are lined up in various forms of grief and disbelief and they are just shocked.”

Frazier said she painted the scene about six years after the attacks. Her 24-by-36-inch acrylic and marker painting hangs now against a brick wall inside Bell, Book and Candle, a bookstore just off the McDonough Square. She has created three dozen paintings on the 9/11 subject matter, 27 of which are on display in downtown McDonough.

Her exhibit is sponsored by the Main Street McDonough Program and is featured at three different shops on the city’s Square, said Linda Schenk, the program’s director. The displays are at Chafin Furniture, 15 Griffin Street; at Clay Plaza, 2 Macon Street; and at Bell, Book and Candle, 45 John Frank Ward Blvd.

“I think it’s very important for people to remember 9/11,” Schenk said. “A lot of people gave their lives that day.”

Frazier’s paintings have varied styles and compositions. She melds symbolism with realism and uses acrylic and marker in her works. There are also works in oil, water color and collage.

One of her works, she said, grew from inspiration she did not expect.

“I’m looking at it and all of a sudden I’m looking at the smoke and I see that, wow, there’s a face coming out of the smoke,” said Frazier.

Her story board paintings are in Clay Plaza. One is called “America Reacts” and another is called “Liberty Reacts.”

Frazier said she uses her talents to express the grief and pride she continues to feel from that day in 2001.

“What can you do about it now? All I could do to help others was to paint,” she said. “I want everybody that looks at the paintings to remember that day. That’s the reason I created all of the paintings.”

Frazier’s paintings will be on display throughout September. She also plans to continue her compositions on the Sept. 11 attacks.

Others in Henry County have found ways to recognize and pay tribute to the victims, survivors and heroes of 9/11.

Glen Haven Baptist Church will hold special worship services Sunday at 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. The services will feature guest speaker and Twin Towers survivor Sujo John. The church is at 345 East Lake Road in McDonough.

Eagle’s Landing Middle School in McDonough will honor local heroes at its annual Heroes Luncheon Tuesday.

Principal Earlene Crump, a former member of the United States Air Force, said the luncheon is designed to honor the heroes of 9/11 as well as the first responders who choose the profession in present-day Henry County.

The Health Occupations Students of America organization at Woodland High School is planning a field trip to Fire Station No. 11 in Stockbridge.

Gail Dutton, the school’s healthcare science instructor, said this will mark the third year the student organization has visited the fire station which serves the school community.

“We take baked goods to the firefighters to thank them for their service to our community,” said Dutton. The students receive a tour of the station and they learn about its fire engine, ambulance and equipment.

McDonough resident David Andrews and others are organizing a fourth annual 9/11 tribute.

“In particular its for the 353 public servants that lost their lives that day,” said Andrews.

The tribute is planned for Tuesday at the corner of Ga. 20/81 and Old Industrial Boulevard in McDonough at I-75 Exit 218. It will be attended by members of The Marine Corps League, The American Legion and the Henry County High Navy JROTC Program.

Andrews said there will be four ceremonies within a two-hour span starting at 8:36 a.m. He said traffic will be stopped at the intersection during the same times as the four hijacked planes crashed Sept. 11, 2001.