Our Mission
The Wharton Memorial Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to honor and continue the gardening legacies of Mrs. Louise Bibb Wharton and Mrs. Eloise Gregory, to encourage interest in horticulture through the creation and maintenance of public gardens, and to promote the development of North Bridge Street as a cultural and historic area through gardening, restoring historic structures and supporting the programs of the Bedford Central Library, the Bedford Historic Society and other neighboring institutions.
About the Property
The Wharton Garden
The Wharton Garden is located in the town of Bedford, Virginia between the Bedford Central Library and The Bower Center for the Arts. It includes the Children's Literacy Garden, made up of several vignettes with an Alice in Wonderland theme , the Reading Walk, the Pollinator Garden, the Playhouse, a pergola and performance stage.
The Wharton Cottage
The Wharton Cottage is located at 309 N. Bridge Street in the small town of Bedford, Virginia. Built in 1848 in the Carpenter Gothic style, the home has been lovingly restored and maintained and is now Town Kitchen & Provisions restaurant.
Our Volunteers
We are very grateful for the endless hours put in by our volunteers, those who physically work in the garden and those behind-the-scenes who do their part to make this garden what it is! Included in the list below of the many community volunteers are the current members of The Wharton Memorial Foundation Board of Directors: Fred Duis - co-founder of the organization and current President, Susan Dixon - Vice-President, Kathy Graham - Recording Secretary, Robin Wood - Treasurer, Libby Berry, Jenny Novalis, Emilie Temeles, Shearer Rumsey, Jeanette Cole. Horticultural Consultant is Clare Jackson, New Leaf Farms
GARDEN AND COTTAGE VOLUNTEERS: 2016-2024
LIBBY BERRY
WILL BERRY
ROBIN WOOD
SUSAN DIXON
SHEARER RUMSEY
EMILIE TEMELES
JEANETTE COLE
JENNY NOVALIS
KATHY GRAHAM
FAOLYNN GRAHAM
WAYNE HUTCHISON
RON BRENTS
JAY JOHNSON
BEN WITT
DES BLACK
ADAM SPONTARELLI
SUE CADEIRO
CATHY BYRNE
PAUL AND JILL HARDESTY
LIBERTYH.S. HORT. CLASS
JESSICA BONDURANT
MARY MILES w/LINDA AND DIANE
RAY ENLUND
GARY SNYDER
CHRIS GARBARINI
MARK GARBARINI
SCOTT CAMPBELL
BRANDON CAMPBELL
JARED O’BRIEN
PETER MAXWELL
MICHAEL MAXWELL
HELEN MAXWELL
CHARLOTTE MAXWELL
PHIL JONES
DON JONES
BETTY GEREAU
ANN ZUDEKOFF
MAC DUIS
WILL DUIS
ELI THOMASSON
GREG THOMASSON
SARAH THOMASSON
BOB PRATT
GENE LOWE
DE DE RUBIN
HAKKIM RUBIN
JOHN WILCHER
DAVE SPERRAZA
JAYNE COMPTON
VERONICA JACKSON
RUSTY MANSEL
SHELLEY STARR
JIM FERGUSON
JIM JOHANSEN
LINDA JOHANSEN
LYN COPPEDGE
IVAN KIRBY
BEDFORDVOL. FIRE DEPT.
CHERIE WHITEHURST
RHETTA WATKINS
GARY LOWRY
PHIL WALLACE
BEDFORDWATER AUTHORITY
BEDFORDTOWN PUB. WORKS
JEFF AND CHERYL THOMPSON
BEDFORDCENTRAL LIB. STAFF
WITT MECHANICAL
FRED DUIS
CHARLOTTE DUIS
CLARE ROBERTSON
NEW LEAF FARMS
TED TSOLEAS
WE WELCOME HELP! LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE INTERESTED!
Our Grantors
We are very grateful for the following grantors:
Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation
Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation
Nora Roberts Foundation
Schumann Foundation
Town of Bedford
The Easley Trust
Bedford Community Health Foundation
Our Donors
We are very grateful for the wonderful support of the many people who donate to our efforts,
In Honor of or In Memory of someone, helping to make this garden a beneficial asset to our community. Thank you!
2016 ~ 2024
Alice & Randy Bradshaw In Honor of Charlie & Sara Oliver
Dr. John D. Bower In Memory of Jack Coleman
Anita Braun In Honor of Fred & Charlotte Duis
Sydney Graff In Memory of Jeanne Johnson
Robert Lambeth, Jr. In Memory of Clara Lambeth
Marie Powers In Honor of Fred Duis
Cathy C. Byrne In Memory of Sue Cadiero
Charlotte and Fred Duis In Memory of Sue Cadiero
Sally Counts In Memory of Sue Cadiero
Jan D. Wright In Memory of Sue Cadiero
Shepherd's Table In Memory of Sue Cadeiro
Jim & Dott Stroud In Honor of Fred Duis
Steve & Judy Schulz In Honor of Ann & Morgan Cryster, Phil & Kay Schulz & Family and Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth Greer
Sara Joyner In Honor of George E. Joyner and In Memory of Ann L. Jones
Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Fred Duis & Libby Berry
Stephen & Louise Duis Cary In Memory of William H. and Sarah P. Duis
Duis Family Properties LLC# In Memory of William H. & Sarah P. Duis
Peter D. Jennings In Memory of Joan E. Jennings
Phil & Mary Jones In Memory of John Norcross
Dr. John D. Bower In Memory Mitch & Minnie Bower
Diana Merelman & James Esselman In Memory of William H. & Sarah P. Duis
Yolanda Y. Adams In Memory of Maura Cordova
Jacqueline Wente In Memory of Lynne Hutchison
Traci & Mikael Blido In Honor of Patrick & Mitchell 10 yrs
Julie Stanley In Honor of Doris Stanley
Rebecca Mays In Memory of Bill Mays-Feb. 2017
Stephen Merelman & Shannon Case In Memory of Sarah P. Duis
Case & Coby Pieterman In Honor of Fred Duis
Jim & Sherry Revell In Memory of Mr. & Mrs. James Revell Sr
Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Fred Duis, Board and Volunteers
Betsy G. McCrodden In Honor of Libby Berry and Fred Duis
Rebecca Mays In Honor of Fred Duis
Ann J. Vest In Memory of Nina & Harold Jarvis
Sara Braaten & Bruce Johannessen In Honor of Charlotte Duis
Jeff & Laura Hubbard In Memory of Robert T. Oates
Jacqueline A Wente In Memory of Dr. John Wente
Charlotte and Fred Duis In Memory of William H. & Sarah P. Duis
Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Kaye Lipscomb
M F Moorman Family Foundation In Honor of Fred Duis and Libby Berry
Kaye Lipscomb In Honor of Michelle & Lloyd Goode and "Pete"
Eileen Garbarini In Honor of Kathy Graham
Shelley & Jason O'Brien In Memory of Peter Maxwell
Gail F. Brown In Memory of Michael Lambka
Duis Family Properties LLC# In Memory of Peter Maxwell
Susan L. Chappelle In Honor of Wharton Garden
William Childress & Jeanette Cole In Memory of Mary Francis Childress
Faye Ferguson In Memory of James (Jimmy) Ferguson
Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Mary Jean Garrett
Frank & Anita Spaulding In Honor of Pax & Marley Spaulding
Carl & Ora Dale Wells In Honor of Those Who Set This Up!
Penelope & T. Henry Clarke In Honor of Charlotte & Fred Duis
Sandra Boyes In Memory of David Boyes
Diana Merelman & James Esselman In Honor of Louise Duis Cary
Mary S. Garrett In Memory of Doris Rich (Mother of Michelle Goode)
Michelle R. Goode In Memory of Doris H. Rich
Rosylyn C. Reynolds In Memory of Mother and Father-Mabel Padgett Cave and Virgil Benton Cave
Gail Thomas In Honor of Fred Duis
Bill & Jennie Allman In Memory of Hallie & Leo Teass
Howard Lambka In Memory of Jo and Michael Lambka
Debbie & H. Paul Rhodes In Honor of Fred Duis
Anita Braun In Honor of Bedford Town & County Volunteers
Robin C. Wood In Memory of Wood & Clark Families
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory In Memory of Sadie Jane Walker Tharp
Sarah Duis Thomasson In Memory of Penny Hinton
Charlotte and Fred Duis In Memory of Penny Hinton
Julie Cooper In Memory of Penny Hinton
John & Judy Chesson In Honor of Thomas Chesson's Birthday
Will & Libby Berry In Honor of Michelle Goode's Birthday
John & Judy Chesson In Honor of Andrea Plamondon's Birthday
Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Libby Berry's Birthday
Jo Kissenberth In Memory of Danny King and Tanya Woolridge
John & Judy Chesson In Honor of John P. Chesson
Ann J. Vest In Memory of Ann M. Cauthorn
Sara B. Braaten & Bruce Johannessen In Honor of Zoe Dillon
Anita Braun In Honor of Composers, Musicians & Artists Who Provide Musical Creativity
M F Moorman Family Foundation In Honor of Fred Duis
Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Wharton Board
Please see our DONATE page if you'd like to donate in this special way.