In the BTS fandom, fans have long found meaningful ways to support each other, celebrate shared memories, and honor those who are no longer here. One particularly poignant tribute has seen ARMY members around the world wear tiny turquoise pebbles to BTS concerts in memory of Abby, ensuring her love for the group lives on wherever their music is celebrated.
Abby’s Pebbles was created by her mother, Jamie Elder, after Abby’s death in 2024. The initiative began as a simple but powerful idea: to symbolically take Abby to the places she had dreamed of visiting but never had the chance to experience.
Each stone is turquoise blue, Abby’s favorite color, and serves as a reminder that even though she is gone, her journey continues through the kindness of others.
ARMYs who go to concerts all over the world have taken Abby’s Pebbles with them, photographed them in arenas and shared their journeys online. Some have even created special concert freebies with turquoise pebbles, allowing more fans to learn Abby’s story and participate in honoring her memory.
The tribute not only reflects Abby’s love for BTS, but also the sense of community that has become synonymous with the global fandom.
Abby became a BTS fan in 2017. Like many ARMYs, she found joy in their music, performances, and messages of hope and self-love. She was passionate about dance, having studied ballet while enjoying many different styles. She also learned BTS choreography, combining two of her biggest interests. Music was another important part of her life, and she enjoyed playing the piano as well as singing.
Abby was always eager to learn. She studied Korean and Japanese and taught herself to read and write both languages while constantly challenging herself to improve. Outside of music, she loved anime and enjoyed cosplaying characters from her favorite shows.
Although Abby considered herself OT7 and appreciated all the members of BTS equally, she was closest to V. Despite this, she never liked to single out one member over the others, believing that each of the seven artists contributed something unique that made BTS special.
Her ambitions extended far beyond her hobbies. Abby dreamed of owning a motorcycle and had planned to enroll in an emergency medical technician (EMT) program with the goal of becoming a paramedic. She approached everything with determination and always strived to be the best she could be.
Since launching Abby’s Pebbles, Jamie Elder has received messages from people around the world explaining how the project has helped them through grief, encouraged conversations about mental health or simply reminded them that they are not alone. With many fans expressing how touched they were to receive an Abby’s rock.
For many BTS ARMY concert goers, wearing a turquoise stone has become much more than just a small memento. It’s a way to ensure that Abby’s love for BTS continues to travel the world, allowing her to be present, in spirit, at the concerts. With each turquoise stone carried into a stadium, Abby’s story continues, one concert at a time.
Along with creating Abby’s Pebbles, Jamie Elder has become a passionate advocate for suicide prevention and mental health on social media. By sharing Abby’s story with honesty and compassion, she has created a supportive online community where people feel able to talk openly about grief, loss and their own mental illness.
If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time and experiencing thoughts of self-harm/suicide, there are helplines available. If you are in the UK, the Samaritans are free to call and are available 24 hours a day 365 days a year on 116 123. You can also find a tool to find global hotlines and centers at Befrienders Worldwide
