As the community continues to mourn the passing of Jamezetta Bedford this summer, her former colleagues on the Board of Orange County Commissioners recently honored her by dedicating the future crisis diversion facility in her name.
The board unanimously passed a resolution during its Tuesday meeting to call the building the Jamezetta Bedford Crisis Care Center – describing it a fitting symbol of the legacy she left of improving and promoting access to care for those underserved by traditional systems.
Bedford unexpectedly died from complications following a medical procedure on June 21. Just five days later, her colleagues gathered to vote on the county’s upcoming budget and give final approval to the crisis division facility it has been crafting for years.
Bedford was a champion of the project, having been an original member of the Crisis Diversion Facility Subcommittee and strongly supported the idea of a place for people experiencing mental health crises to go instead of either the hospital or jail. It was the same subcommittee that brought the request to the county commissioners to name the building in her memory.
The Bedford family was in attendance to hear the board read and unanimously adopt the resolution, with Jamezetta’s husband, Ed, thanking the group afterward.
“To have the behavioral health crisis center named in honor and memory is humbling and means more than words can express,” he said. “Jamezetta cared deeply about the community and believed in serving others, making a difference and leading, leaving things better than she found them. She advocated for this facility and program for years.
“This is a beautiful and lasting tribute,” Bedford concluded. “We take comfort knowing that her memory and values will continue to be part of this community.”
The facility started construction last month, according to the county, on the five-acre parcel of land neighboring the UNC Hospitals building in Hillsborough. It came about following a study on the gaps in how local emergency services responded to and treated behavioral health problems – with one of those being the need for a place that could provide urgent and compassionate support to people. Patients at the future care center will receive treatment and rooms for 24-hour periods before staff provide direct connections to resources for addressing ongoing health challenges.
Each member of the county commissioners took a moment to reflect and remember their late colleague after each read aloud part of the resolution.
“I would much rather have her here sitting amongst us with her practical advice and joyful chuckle,” Commissioner Amy Fowler said to open the comments. “But absent that, I cannot think of a better tribute than for us to name the Crisis Diversion Facility [after] her.”
“This is really a wonderful way to honor Jamezetta,” said Commissioner Sally Greene, “and it is appropriate that her name will live on this building in this facility for many, many decades and hopefully generations to come.
The most senior member of the county board, Earl McKee, said he’ll remember Bedford’s compassion, dedication and ferocity for serving others.
“When she was right [about something], she was a force to be dealt with,” McKee said with a smile. “And I knew absolutely, as a matter of fact, that if I was going to oppose something or be on the opposite side of something [as her], I need to know my facts – because she absolutely would know hers. And if I didn’t know mine, it was going to be bad for me.”
“She was the ultimate mentor,” added Commissioner Phyllis Portie-Ascott. “She was always available and she always had a way of explaining things in such a way that you got it and she didn’t make you feel small if you didn’t understand some simple things. So, I appreciate and echo what the county manager said, that she just gets it and she understood when some of the rest of us did not.”
Marilyn Carter, meanwhile, recalled memories of knowing the Bedford family from when their children shared an elementary school classroom and Jamezetta helped teach the students how to bake cookies.
“I’ll forever be grateful for what she’s done for not only our family, but so many families. And, last but not least, her advocacy for people who are struggling either with IDD issues or mental health issues. So many of our families struggle with these issues, and she was a fierce advocate. So, I’m grateful again that you’ve shared her with us for a little while.”
Commissioner Rani Dasi was appointed to fill Bedford’s vacant District 1 seat in July. Tuesday marked her second meeting and passing the resolution was among her first votes on the county board. She pledged to the Bedford family that she would continue to learn the role and follow in Jamezetta’s footsteps.
“I thought I had a special relationship with her — but turns out she had that same level of connection with so many people,” Dasi said. “And everybody I meet has a story of how special she was to them and how connected she felt.”
Chair Jean Hamilton concluded the remarks by saying she believes dedicating the crisis care center in Bedford’s honor was “a no brainer” for the county government.
“She advocated for all people, especially those who face barriers to care and opportunity,” Hamilton said of her former colleague. “She knew that we needed a better response for behavioral healthcare in this community, and she really made this project possible. She was advocating for it when she was in the hospital. And I knew she wanted to be here for the votes.
“So,” the board chair concluded, “the Jamezetta Bedford Crisis Care Center really will last in our community as a reflection of her compassion, her leadership, and a belief that everybody deserves the opportunity to thrive.”
The latest timeline shared by Orange County says the goal is for construction on the Jamezetta Bedford Crisis Care Center to be completed by next winter and to target an operational date in the spring of 2028. Updates on the project can be found on the county government’s website.
The full Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting from Tuesday, September 1 can be watched here.
Featured photos via the Orange County government/CPL.
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