Passionate, loving, loyal, helpful - these are some of the words relatives and friends use to describe Jayne Wilson.

The Balgownie woman founded The Salvation Army's First Floor Program in Wollongong, helping countless Illawarra families affected by substance abuse, mental illness and suicide.

A dedicated counsellor and police chaplain, who served the Lake Illawarra Area Command for seven years, Jayne died on Christmas Day 2013 from lung cancer, aged 68.

Now her Salvos colleagues and Jayne's family have come together to hold the inaugural Jayne Wilson Memorial Exhibition in her honour.

Coinciding with Jayne's birthday on January 24, the annual event will feature 60 artworks, as well as 30 of Jayne's paintings.

The Wilson family will judge the winning entry in the family choice category.

The Jayne Wilson Fund will also be launched to support the work of the First Floor Program.

Minister for the Illawarra John Ajaka will officially open the exhibition on Thursday.

The exhibition will be open daily, 10am-3pm, from January 23-February 1, at the Salvation Army Centre, 11-13 Burelli Street, Wollongong.

Entry is free.

The theme is sunflowers, Jayne's favourite flower. Sunflowers are also a symbol of the suicide bereavement group.

First Floor Program co-ordinator Marilyn Dunn said Jayne used art in a number of groups, including suicide bereavement.

"The works we've received are incredibly creative and colourful and very much in keeping with Jayne's passion for creativity and beauty," Ms Dunn said.

"She was amazing, she was enthusiastic, she was passionate, she was loving. She could relate to anyone."

Paul Flemming, one of Jayne's seven children, said the show would keep his mother's legacy alive.

"We're still discovering how many people she affected," he said.

"She put a lot into the Salvos and for them to give back is really, really good."

Granddaughter Casey Flemming, 13, has put together a PowerPoint tribute to Jayne.