MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A beloved Memphis teacher and runner whose life was cut short two years ago will have a library named in her honor. St. Mary's Episcopal School broke ground Friday on a new library dedicated in Eliza Fletcher's name. The school says they hope it will inspire other young girls to be a light in the community just like Liza. St. Mary’s to expand, add ‘Liza’s Library’ in honor of former teacher At Saint Mary's Episcopal School, a look of excitement and a sparkle in the eyes of young girls as they watched construction teams pour the concrete foundation for a project paying tribute to the legacy of teacher and runner Eliza Fletcher. "I am very excited about the project. My art is going to be hung up in the library," said fifth-grader Grace Zoghbi. This groundbreaking marks a major $10 million expansion on campus, including what will be the new library in Fletcher's name dedicated to early childhood education. The project is completely donor funded, said Catherine Denman, director of libraries at St. Mary's. The 9,000-square-foot renovation to Moss Hall will feature Liza's Library and other additions. It will also have space maker's space, science classroom and a nursery for faculty and staff with children, Denman said. Architectural drawing of Liza's Library (courtesy St. Mary's ) "Liza" is the name friends and family called the beloved and respected teacher at Saint Mary's. She taught here for seven years. But in September of 2022, the 34-year-old mother and wife's life came to an end after she was kidnapped and killed during her morning run. ► Eliza Fletcher: Complete coverage of the case Albert Throckmorton, the head of St. Mary's Episcopal, says Liza had a passion for young learners on their journey in reading. "She had her own struggles with reading, and she came to us as a teacher passionate about teaching every child to read," he said. It's a bittersweet project honoring the life and a community's love for Eliza Fletcher and the inspiration she will have for generations to come. "In working with her family, we thought this was the most fitting tribute to her was to have a library with 10,000 books and stories for girls to read, so that every girl leaves here like Liza and be able to be a light in the community," Throckmorton said.       The school says they began the groundwork on the project this past summer and the project should be completed and ready to open it for the beginning of school in August of 2025.