Remembering Jay Brockenborough: Paducah Service

Two weeks ago (seems like months) I wrote here the sad news about the loss of Jay Brockenborough, my brother-in-law. Bruce and I were in Paris that week for a very beautiful service for Jay, organized by his many French friends. It was equal parts heart-warming and heartbreaking. Jay had lived in Paris just six years, became absolutely fluent in French, eagerly soaked in the culture and dedicated himself to building a lifetime of many real and wonderful friends there.

His friends have become our friends, and we simply can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done to help Bruce with all the arrangements.

U.S. family and friends are invited to celebrate Jay’s life here in Paducah this Friday, July 2, at St. Thomas More Church. Visitation is at 5 p.m., with a service at 6 p.m. Later, Bruce and I would like you to join us at Martin Fierro Argentinean Grill around 9 p.m. DJ Urban Kobbb will throw down some beats, and we’ll all share warm memories of someone who was very, very special to so many.

The photo above, by the way, is of Jay, his dad Bop (whom we lost in April — yes, tough year, no doubt) and Jay’s 6-month-old son Adane, whom I met for the first time while in Paris. It’s easy to see a lot of Jay in Adane, and I hope we’ll get to see even more as Adane grows into the same sort of bright, curious, funny generous and handsome man that was, indeed, Jay.

We look forward to seeing you Friday. Many thanks again for your outreach. We feel it.