Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group Quilt Project

For nearly 50 years the Survivors of Suicide Loss Group has been part of the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center. In the early 2000’s group members decided to create a quilt. Each family created a quilt square to memorialize their loved ones that were lost to suicide. Since then, the group has created quilts every couple of years. Ten quilts now line the halls of the BRCIC offices, and we have a smaller one that can be taken to events.



After one of the quilts was hung on the walls of the Center, the quilters noticed that one of the edges had not been sewn together and still had straight pins in it. They considered taking it down to complete it, and decided to leave it up, as a symbol of a life unfinished. It hangs on the wall now, pins and all.


Our library doubles as a quilting room. Once each person or family who wants to be a part of the quilt has designed a square representing their loved one, one of our board members, Shelly Mullenix, has them printed onto muslin fabric. They are sewn together to make a quilt top. Once the quilt top is finished, some group members come in before group meetings, add the batting and backing, and do the quilting and finishing.