By Haley Mitchell Godwin

 South Luverne Baptist Church is spreading holiday cheer while honoring the memory of the late Correy Bozeman with the inaugural Christmas Trail at Douglass Park. The Trail serves as both a community gathering place and a fundraiser for the Correy Bozeman Memorial Scholarship and South Luverne’s community missions fund. 

There is no charge to enjoy the trail which features decorated Christmas trees along the walking path with “The Correy Tree” as the centerpiece. Local businesses, individuals and families generously sponsored displays or made contributions acknowledged with signage. 

Each tree showcases a unique design with many spotlighting local businesses in the county as part of their tax-deductible sponsorships.

“We will always feel Correy’s spirit and are happy that we can do this scholarship in his honor,” said South Luverne pastor Justin Jacobs, who emphasized how Correy’s presence and spirit continue to be felt by the church community and beyond. 

The scholarship aims to keep Correy’s memory alive while helping local students pursue their educational dreams. The son of Mathew and Meredith Bozeman, Correy was diagnosed in September 2020 with undifferentiated round-cell solid spinal tumors, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Despite the challenges of his diagnosis, Correy showed strength and faith throughout his battle with cancer. 

He gave his life to Christ and joined South Luverne in February 2023. Correy was baptized shortly after his profession of faith by Jacobs in his hospital bed at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. 

Correy passed away in the spring of 2023, and though the specific cancer that took his life remains unidentified, his legacy endures through things like this scholarship.

The scholarship’s founders hope to raise enough money to award two $2,500 scholarships each year to qualifying high school seniors from Crenshaw County. One scholarship will be awarded to a senior who is a member of South Luverne, while the other will be given to a senior who is a member in good standing at any Baptist church within the county. The recipients will be selected by a third-party committee at the Alabama Baptist Foundation, with the scholarship funds going directly to the students’ schools.

The loss of their cherished Correy has become a powerful source of inspiration and hope for the Bozemans who hope the scholarship will touch lives for generations to come as an example of the their faith and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others 

“We have always tried to turn our grief into something meaningful, and the scholarship is another way to honor Correy’s memory,” said Correy’s mother Meredith Bozeman. “We never know what tomorrow holds. When God calls you, don’t ignore it — answer Him and embrace His purpose for you. Correy may never have realized the profound impact he had on the world during his short 10 years, but I hope others will follow his example by embracing their own callings. Above all, ensure your heart is prepared to meet Jesus when you’re called home.”

Those interested in contributing to the scholarship fund can do so by writing checks to South Luverne Baptist Church, with “Correy Bozeman Scholarship Fund” in the memo line. All donations are tax-deductible, and contributors will receive a receipt for their generosity.

For more information on next year’s sponsorship opportunities or for other inquiries, please contact Pastor Justin Jacobs at (334) 482-3321 or by email at southluvernebc@troycable.net.