NATCHEZ — The Rev. Queen Jackson said she knows hurt.

Jackson’s husband of 49 years, the late Rev. Bishop Melvin Jackson Sr., died last September after battling kidney failure for a year.

“Every day, it gets better,” said Queen Jackson. “I’m at the healing part now. I’m thinking about the memories. I’m at the memory phase, and it is crucial. I can look back and just rejoice and look back to all those years we did have and the memories.”

Jackson said she went through various stages of grief to get to the phase she is in today, and she wants to use her ministry to help others who might be suffering similar losses.

“After I went through my grief, God said, ‘It is time for you to help,’” Queen Jackson said.

To help others, Queen Jackson said she conceived the “Healing the Hurt Concert Tour.”

“I would be going around the country, praying for those who are depressed and who have a loss, like myself, of a spouse or the loss of a child,” Queen Jackson said. “These are the things that we are coming together to pray for in the community.”

Other losses, Queen Jackson said she would be praying for include, among others, people who are experiencing indebtedness, divorce, depression and oppression.

The concert will be presented 7 p.m. July 13 at the Natchez City Auditorium, 207 Jefferson St.

The event is free to the public but an offering will be accepted.

The event also will feature performances by two Christian recording artists, Vicky Yohe and Debra Snipes & the Angels.

“We will have other ministers and pastors there, praying and laying hands, healing

anger. The community has had killings and murders and people are feeling oppressed and depressed,” said Queen Jackson, who has pastored, along with her late husband, Fayette Greater New Jerusalem Apostolic Healing Temple for 32 years.

Queen Jackson said the Natchez City Auditorium is a great venue for the event that is open to all denominations.

“Everyone can come, and we will lay hands on the people and pray for people,” Queen Jackson said. “I’ve been doing it for 32 years, and people have been delivered, healed and have a change of life. It all starts in the mind.”

The Healing the Hurt Concert Tour is 7 p.m. July 13 at the Natchez City Auditorium, 207 Jefferson St., Natchez.

Call 601-442-7380 for more information.