Willie Headley Service Awards

  When Willie and her husband Bob retired in Black Mountain, Willie hit the ground running, playing an instrumental role in making the Town Square what it is today. She worked with the women at the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women, helped to rehab their greenhouses and began a program for the women of the Center that continues to this day.  It has been said that if Willie wanted to get something done, no one told her no. She envisioned what she wanted for the town, and made sure that it happened.  

Unfortunately, Willie passed away before seeing the Town Square come to fruition, but her drive, determination and vision had an impact on everyone in the town, whether they were fortunate enough to have met her in person or not.

 You have seen them at Town Square, you’ve seen them at the East Gate Welcome Sign, you first saw them at the I-40 Exit Welcome sign, now you can see them at the Chamber of Commerce and Howachyn Walk.
Who are these gardeners who have worked 6 to 7 days a week, digging up weeds, moving and removing plants, adding stones, collaborating with garden site managers? They are Pat and Carl Reichenbach, the recipients of the 2022 Willie Headley Service Award.
For the first time in 11 years, this award was presented on Sunday, June 5, to a couple, Pat and Carl Reichenbach. They are as one in their time and dedication to the Beautification Committee.   “Plant a site for what it is going to become. We are not of the more is better mindset.” says Pat.
Together they have brought this philosophy to Pat’s work as Garden Site Coordinator. The
Beautification Committee has 26 garden sites. Pat is available as a consultant to the managers
of these sites and their consultation has been much appreciated.
Many of the garden sites were initially installed 15 to 20 years ago. The committee has been
serving Black Mountain since 2000 and some of the plant material was planted in the early days
of the committee. After this number of years, a redo is welcome. Pat and Carl joined the committee in 2015. Their very first project as members was to redesign the entrance into town from I-40 at Exit 64. They were bothered by the weeds and the unkempt appearance at this vital spot in town. In 2015 this was not a garden site maintained by the Beautification Committee. It is now.
Together they have led refurbishing projects for 11 of the beautification gardens. Garden site
managers call upon Pat and Carl if they want help. Every week someone is now asking them for assistance.  Once invited in, they are not shy about suggesting a total makeover, if warranted.
Pat said their approach is practical, no plants go in until structural work is accomplished and
they want gardens to look good in winter when deciduous plants are dormant as well as great
in the growing season.
In addition, they want to make sites easier for managers to manage. Carl added, they will do
their best not to put anything in that they know will be a problem for someone down the road.
And in each garden, they try to designate areas where the managers express their own
creativity.
For their thoughtful gardening ideas and their very hard work on behalf of Black Mountain, the
Black Mountain Beautification Committee was excited to honor Pat and Carl with this award.
Both were humbled to receive the award. In accepting the award, Carl said that the town and
the committee has done so much for them. “When we work on the garden sites, people come by and thank us. When working on I-40 a woman stopped and walked down the strip and
brought us lunch. It is so rewarding, the people in town are so appreciative.”
Pat expressed her appreciation in writing, “This annual award is a great reminder that this
amazing group of individuals continues to work together with ideas, visions, talents, and hard
work, for the benefit of our Town, our Community. We are very proud to be a part of the BMBC and happy to do our part.”