Marneria White has walked a mile in the shoes of the Miss-Lou high school seniors who have lost a parent or sibling.

White’s experiences coping with the loss of her mother while still trying to be a regular teenager are what she hopes to share with others going through a similar situation.

“Sometimes kids going through that stuff might not want to open up to an adult who has never been there, but I have been there,” said White, a Natchez High School graduate. “I have been through it, and I know exactly what to say and what not to say.”

White was one of the first beneficiaries of a community organization that works with and honors students who have lost a loved one.

The organization — “It still takes a village” — was created by Natchez native Chantel Marsaw after her daughter asked if there was anything they could do for the Natchez High School seniors graduating who had all lost a mother or father.

Last year, the organization honored 19 NHS graduates who had lost a parent or sibling during the school’s graduation ceremony.

White, who lost her mother LaTonya White in 2002, said the moment was one she’ll always remember.

“It was a big deal walking across that stage and knowing that all these people were going through the same thing you were,” White said. “We all had achieved a goal that we knew our parents would have wanted us to do.”

Since then, Marsaw has expanded the program to include eight area schools, and the organization has received a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Marsaw said the decision to expand from just NHS to the private and parochial schools in Natchez, as well as others in surrounding areas, came from necessity.

“After we did the first one, I started getting all these calls from people, and I realized how many kids there are that have lost someone and don’t get recognized,” Marsaw said. “We had to do it.”

With the expansion, Marsaw knew she would need a team of dedicated volunteers who could help her keep up with the extra work required with more students.

Marsaw immediately turned to the NHS graduates who were part of the first group to be recognized.

Luckily, some of those students had been so moved by Marsaw’s efforts, they hopped right on board.

“Mrs. Marsaw is like a mother to me and if she’s stuck with me through all of that, I’m always going to make time to help her,” said White, who is a sophomore at the University of Southern Mississippi. “She called me up and told me they were getting bigger and would I like to be on her board.

“I was happy to help anyway I could, because sometimes parents or other grownups don’t know what they’re going through or what it’s like.”

Marsaw said she was especially grateful to have White’s sister, Justice, be a part of the students at NHS who will be recognized this year.

“It’s like going full circle,” Marsaw said.

Justice said she seeing her sister go through the recognition process last year at graduation and the bonds she created with the other students made her want to be a part of the organization.

“My sister would tell me all about what they did, and it sounded good,” Justice said. “She encouraged me to sign up, so I did.”

Marsaw also received an influx of community members who joined the board to help out with the additional needs of the organization.

Seeing the response from the students who have already been recognized, as well as the volunteer community members, has been fulfilling for Marsaw.

“I believe God sent me all these people,” she said. “It’s just incredible to see everyone wanting to help these kids out.”

At graduation in May, the organization will honor students who have lost a parent or sibling at Adams County Christian School, Cathedral High School, Jefferson County High School, Franklin County High School, Natchez High School, Port Gibson High School, Trinity Episcopal Day School and Wilkinson County High School.

Marsaw said she soon hopes to expand the organization to begin reaching out to students before their senior year and hosting various events for each grade throughout their time in high school.

“If we do that, we can know about a ninth grader who will be recognized and follow them all the way until graduation,” Marsaw said. “That way, no one gets left behind.”

For more information or to contribute, call 601-870-3493.