For years, the old memorial rock sat quietly in a forgotten corner of the Millville Beach property, wrapped in thick shrubbery and nearly swallowed by time. Few who passed by knew what it was, and fewer still knew the story behind it. But for the Members of the Town Council and the Recreation Advisory Committee, that hidden stone became a spark—an invitation to rediscover a piece of Millville Lake’s history.
Their research led them to the story of Jimmy Rae, a beloved 12 yr old resident of the Millville Lake community. Jimmy was known for his easy laugh, his willingness to help anyone who needed it, and the deep friendships he forged throughout the neighborhood. His life—and the Rae family’s legacy—was forever marked by a devastating fire, a tragedy that shook the community but also revealed the extraordinary strength of the bonds between neighbors.

The memorial rock had been placed long ago to honor Jimmy’s memory, but as the years passed, it slipped out of sight. The Council and Committee knew it deserved better. With the generous, donated help of Merrill Excavating, the heavy stone was carefully lifted from its overgrown hiding place and moved to a new home: the front entrance of

Millville Beach, where every visitor could see it, touch it, and remember.
Now, standing proudly at the gates of the beach, the rock does more than mark a life—it tells a story. It speaks of the Rae family’s resilience, of friendships that held strong through heartbreak, and of a community that refuses to let its history fade.
The memorial rock to Jimmy Rae will continue to share that story for generations, reminding everyone who walks the beach that love, loyalty, and remembrance are as much a part of Millville Lake as the water itself.