Natchez — Early Saturday morning, a crowd gathered on the side of U.S. 61 to dedicate a freshly erected sign in memory of Kimberley Ann Allen.

Allen died in July 2009, but her memory lives on through the newly placed sign and the lives of the friends and family she touched.

Lawanda Bradford was a friend of Allen’s and said the sign on U.S. 61 is a great way to commemorate Allen’s life.

“We want people coming in and out of Natchez to be able to see her name,” she said. “She did so much good for her community.”

Bradford said Allen was involved in numerous organizations such as the Girl Scouts and the Krewe of Janus.

“She was also a police office for the City of Natchez,” Bradford said. “Eight months before she passed, she was even promoted to detective.”

The month of September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and Bradford said there was no better time to celebrate the life of Allen who died from the disease.

Allen’s first cousin, Yokena Anderson, said she wants the sign to evoke one simple thought to people who read it.

“Kimberley Ann Allen,” she said. “I remember her.”

Allen was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Natchez Alumnae Chapter, and Berthenia Rose Jackson, president of the chapter, said she could not have asked for a greater member.

“Kimberley was the type of Delta everyone needed,” she said. “She couldn’t make it to every meeting, but she would do anything she could to help the chapter out.”

Jackson said there was a Relay for Life event in Allen’s honor earlier this year.

“It was a tremendous outpouring of love,” Jackson said. “We raised around $3,000 and we want to make it an annual event.”

In an address to the crowd of approximately 40 people, Bradford opened with a poem.

“Every step I take, every move I make, every single day and every time I pray, I’m missing you,” she said.

Allen’s daughter, Kiara Allen, was brought to tears during the speech and said it was nice to let her mother’s memory be known in Natchez.

“She did a lot in the community,” she said. “She was a good mom and a good person who had a lot of friends.”

If she could tell her mom one thing, Allen said the message would be one of appreciation.

“I just want to tell her how much I love her, and how proud I am of the things she accomplished,” she said.

One of the stipulations to having the sign in Allen’s memory is to keep the area around it clean, Bradford said.

“We have to clean it at least four times a year,” she said. “(Allen) would not want the streets dirty. She would want everyone doing their part.”

Bradford said she has already had groups contact her and offer to help clean, but that any additional help would be appreciated.

Anyone interested in helping keep the area around the sign clean, e-mail Lawanda Bradford at LawandaBradford1913@yahoo.com.