A memorial for a West Virginia teacher who was killed in a car accident may be dismantled after atheist complaints.
JoAnn Christy was a teacher for Jackson County Schools for 26 years before being killed 10 years ago. A memorial outside of Ravenswood Middle School was erected in her honour.
Christy was a religious woman, according to her family, and enjoyed collecting angels.
Her memorial featured a blue and gold bench - the colors of the Ravenswood High School, where Christy also taught -- as well as crosses and angels. The memorial was called "a perfect blend of all things JoAnn," by the family.
"Love for her alma mater, her state, her school, her students, her faith."
After the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) found out about the memorial through a district parent, they sent a letter to the superintendent alleging it violated separation of church and state mandates.
In response, the district removed several crosses and angels, and plans to lay concrete over two other angels. One Ravenswood parent said the destruction is a shame.
"This was an expression of someone's life and someone's family and what they believed and to snuff that out would take apart from the person that they were," Kimberly Morris told WCHS-TV.
The FFRF also took issue with a live nativity scene depicted during a high school holiday concert. The district acknowledged the atheist organisation's January 20 letter in a statement to Eyewitness News this week.
"Jackson County Schools has received a complaint from the Freedom from Religion Foundation regarding separation of church and state issues at two Ravenswood area schools," Superintendent Blaine Hess wrote.
"This matter is certainly upsetting to a community which holds strong convictions in matters of faith.
"The complaint has been reviewed and initial direction has been provided to the schools involved which will move toward compliance with rulings of the US Supreme Court."
The matter was to be discussed at the Jackson County Board of Education meeting on February 19.
