Personal Journey: Adoption in Atlanta

Monday, December 29, 2014

I was given the opportunity to make a contribution to a Personal Journey story that runs today in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution right before the turn of the new year. Pam Majette and her husband Michael have been foster parents to three brothers for over the past two years. Jimitrious, 8, Jimarcus, 7, and Jimariyo, 6, came through the foster program together and to put it mildly they have been through a lot. Pam and Michael have opened up their lives, their home and their hearts to the boys and it all culminated on this particular Monday at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd’s courtroom as the couple officially adopted the brothers. The occasion was filled with tears and applause as family, friends and social workers filled the courtroom to witness the event. The boys had their names changed in the process to help shed some of the burden of their past. Definitely check out the AJC today for the full story.

Jimariyo Majette (right), his brothers Jimitrious and Jimarcus and their father Michael climb out of the car in the parking lot of the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta before Michael and his wife Pam finalize the adoption process of the three brothers on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Jimariyo Majette (right), his brothers Jimitrious and Jimarcus and their father Michael climb out of the car in the parking lot of the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta before Michael and his wife Pam finalize the adoption process of the three brothers on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette (left) fixes the ties on his sons' Jimitrious, Jimarcus and Jimariyo's suits before heading to Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd's courtroom to finalize the adoption process with his wife Pam at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette (left) fixes the ties on his sons’ Jimitrious, Jimarcus and Jimariyo’s suits before heading to Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd’s courtroom to finalize the adoption process with his wife Pam at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette (center) holds one of his three sons Jimariyo as friends and family fill the lobby of the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta before he and his wife finalize the adoption of  Jimariyo and his brothers Jimitrious and Jimarcus on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette (center) holds one of his three sons Jimariyo as friends and family fill the lobby of the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta before he and his wife finalize the adoption of Jimariyo and his brothers Jimitrious and Jimarcus on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Jimariyo Majette (center) walks towards the courtroom of Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd holding hands with his oldest brother Jimitrious (left) and their new mother Pam before finalizing the adoption process at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Jimariyo Majette (center) walks towards the courtroom of Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd holding hands with his oldest brother Jimitrious (left) and their new mother Pam before finalizing the adoption process at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Pam Majette (left) kisses her husband Michael before finalizing the adoption of their three new sons Jimitrious, Jimariyo and Jimarcus at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Pam Majette (left) kisses her husband Michael before finalizing the adoption of their three new sons Jimitrious, Jimariyo and Jimarcus at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd addresses Michael Majette and his wife Pam during the finalization of the adoption of their three sons at Fulton County Juvenile Court in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd addresses Michael Majette and his wife Pam during the finalization of the adoption of their three sons at Fulton County Juvenile Court in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Pam Majette (left) celebrates with her husband Michael and one of their three new sons Mariyo after finalizing the adoption process at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Pam Majette (left) celebrates with her husband Michael and one of their three new sons Mariyo after finalizing the adoption process at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette Jr. (left) pulls a stuffed animal out of a basket of toys as his brother Markus sits with their new mother Pam and other brother Mariyo sits with their new father Michael  after finalizing the adoption process at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette Jr. (left) pulls a stuffed animal out of a basket of toys as his brother Markus sits with their new mother Pam and other brother Mariyo sits with their new father Michael after finalizing the adoption process at the Fulton County Juvenile Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette (right) shakes hands with Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd with his wife Pam after finalizing the adoption of their three sons on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette (right) shakes hands with Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd with his wife Pam after finalizing the adoption of their three sons on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd (left) looks through a basket of toys with Jimitrious Majette after finalizing the adoption of Jimitrious and his two brothers on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd (left) looks through a basket of toys with Jimitrious Majette after finalizing the adoption of Jimitrious and his two brothers on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette (center) wipes tears from his eyes as he addresses friends and family with his wife Pam (left) and Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd after finalizing the adoption of their three sons on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Michael Majette (center) wipes tears from his eyes as he addresses friends and family with his wife Pam (left) and Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd after finalizing the adoption of their three sons on Monday, December 29, 2014.