A new foundation in the memory of a Blowing Rock couple
will help care for a local portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Sue and Bliss Williams were
fond of walks at Bass Lake in Blowing Rock. Photo
submitted
A gift of $100,000 has been provided to the Blue Ridge Parkway
Foundation to establish an endowment in the names of Bliss and
Sue Williams of Blowing Rock, Charlotte, and Brenham, Tex., to
assist in the perpetual care of Bass Lake.
The lake is in the National Park Service boundaries of the Moses
H. Cone Memorial Park.
The Williamses began spending their summers in Blowing Rock in
1982 after first visiting the area during a family vacation in
1965. Sue became devoted to daily walks around Bass Lake, a tradition
she continued after Bliss’ death in 1998 and until her own
passing in late 2008. Julian Price Park became the official locale
of elaborate family picnics, where Sue and Bliss would orchestrate
games and hikes for their grandchildren.
Other individuals and entities have created endowments over the
years for Moses H. Cone Memorial Park--most recently Bill and
Judy Watson; Alan and Sally Cone; James L. and Pat Shore Clark;
and ZAP Fitness to fund the preservation of the historic carriage
trails in the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park; Alan and Sally Cone
for the estate; and James L. and Pat Shore Clark.
The endowment funds of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation provide
for many park locations and programs. For more information about
establishing named endowments for the Blue Ridge Parkway’s
perpetual care, contact Houck Medford, Executive Director: 336-721-0260
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