Julie Stein, foreground, arranges tiles on one of the picnic tables that honor Sabbrina Jo Babers. Kathy Roberson, center, and Misty Ahearn are also taking part. Sabbrina, 14, died in a car accident in May.

A.E. Araiza / arizona daily star

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The tops of two tables under ramada number two at Jesse Owens Park now look like tile patchwork quilts with patterns and designs that celebrate the life of a young East Side girl.

Sabbrina Jo Babers was 14 when she died in a car crash last May, an hour or so after being honored for her work in the community.

The teen's family and friends, as well as staffers with the Tucson Parks and Recreation Department, have worked for months to complete the project at the park, 400 S. Sarnoff Drive.

Sabbrina had been involved in the Vista del Saguaro Neighborhood Youth Employment Enrichment Program for a few years and was honored the night she died by Tucson City Councilwoman Carol West.

West said May 2 was their end-of-the-year pizza party to thank the teens for their good work.

"My heart was just broken," West said of learning about the accident.

Through the youth-enrichment program, which is paid for by the city and Pima County, teens learn from older community members how to quilt and crochet blankets, which are then donated to the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations.

Sabbrina enjoyed the program and was teaching her younger sister, Celina Babers, what she'd learned, said the girls' mother, Susan Estell.

Sabbrina first became involved when she was 11, following her older sister and stepsister.

The project to remember Sabbrina began in July.

"Every Monday the kids went over to Udall (Park) to the pottery shop to work on their tiles," said Glenna Emslie, superintendent for the East District of Tucson's Parks and Recreation Department.

Many of those who helped were friends of Sabbrina, who was an eighth-grader at Booth-Fickett Math/Science Magnet School.

A private dedication is planned for Oct. 20.

"She was very bubbly, very energetic," Estell said of Sabbrina. "I used to call her my little house monkey because, starting at a very young age, she used to bounce all over the place."

Sabbrina enjoyed skateboarding, gymnastics and singing, Estell said.

"She was a fun kid, she really was. Without her here, I've got to tell, I can't get over how quiet it is," she said.

Celina Babers, who turned 11 this year, will start the neighborhood employment program this month.

Jean Sabo coordinates the intergenerational youth-enrichment program, along with Jennifer Steele.

"These are adults and youth who work together to give back to the community," Sabo said.

Kids younger than 14 earn a stipend for their work and are not allowed to use a sewing machine. But once they turn 14, they begin earning minimum wage and advance to using machines.

Sabbrina was excited about the next stage, Sabo said.

"She was a very energetic young lady who had really came into her own," Sabo said. "It was fun to watch her grow from 'Sabbrina, you need to stay on task' to her saying, 'Can I help with something?' "

Estell said she first heard of the youth-employment program nine years ago when her oldest daughter, Christina Babers, was 11.

"It's been such a neat program to get them involved in," she said. "It teaches them responsibility and mentoring."

For Sabbrina's memorial, friends and family have made the tiles with designs and pictures that represent what Sabbrina enjoyed and loved.

"There are a lot of butterflies and a lot of hearts. She was into that," Estell said. Estell said working on the tiles was "very therapeutic."

Councilwoman West said she was happy to support the memorial.

"I thought I really needed to do something to help these kids with this (loss) and at the same time, do something that's a memorial for their friend," she said.