Giving:

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Elaine Kolberg. When he was transferred again, this time to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in 1944, he asked Mary to move there so they could get married.

Morrison participated in the Berlin Airlift after World War II. He attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, and served 25 years in the military, both in the U.S. and overseas. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1966. Four years later, he opened Morrison Farms in Brookhaven, which he continued to operate until 2006. Mary Elaine worked along with him as bookkeeper for the business.

When The Atlanta Constitution recommended six metro Atlanta nurseries to visit for an enjoyable weekend outing, they included Morrison Farms. The 1991 article advises, “You might miss it because the sign was small with red letters and pointed the way.” Morrison Farms was the only nursery on the list located inside I-285. (The Atlanta Constitution, May 12, 1991, “A weekend escape: Hop in the car and find these 6 nurseries”)

Morrison Farms had 40,000 square feet of greenhouse space and offered vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs, houseplants, hanging baskets and clay pots. It was described as a farm with shade trees and level terrain, making it a fun place to walk around and explore.

In 1994, suggestions of Morrison as Father Christmas or Colonel Christmas are made. Poinsettias, which are native to Mexico, became the popular plant at the farm.

“William Morrison doesn’t live at the North Pole. But a visit to his Morrison Farms in northeast Atlanta, near Oglethorpe University, will almost make you believe this engagingly energetic 74-year-old nursery owner is the real thing.” (The Atlanta Constitution, Dec. 23, 1994, “Colonel Christmas: Nurseryman’s knack begets a wonderland of poinsettias”)

The farm’s October 1996 newspaper advertisement announced, “Poinsettias are

Here is a list of recent grants the Blank Foundation has made to put it over the $1 billion mark: growing.”

In November of 2000, the nursery was featured in an article about poinsettias. The greenhouses were filled with various varieties of poinsettias and other holiday flowers. Colors included the Freedom variety featuring red, white, and pink, Monet poinsettia with speckled red and cream color flowers, and the Red Velvet variety. (Atlanta Constitution, Nov. 23, 2000, “Welcome holidays with poinsettias from Morrison Farms”)

Morrison Farms also advertised their poinsettias and other plant offerings on a regular basis in the Dunwoody Crier newspaper. I don’t remember ever visiting there, but if you have memories to share of Morrison Farms, please send me an e-mail.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

Blank also has intentionally been sharing his love of philanthropy with his six children.

“Our entire family shares the core value of giving back,” Blank said in his email response. “Many of my children already have their own philanthropic endeavors, and we’ll continue to have family members sit on the board of our family foundation. My children all have their own interests, and when we’re not working together to address our shared interests through our family foundation, they’re giving to their own personal passions.”

In addition to running the family foundation, Twersky sits on the leadership team of Blank’s various for-profit businesses, which include the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana, PGA TOUR Superstore and AMBSE Ventures.

In her role, Twersky has been impressed with the corporate, civic and philanthropic communities in Atlanta.

“There’s a lot of terrific corporate giving in Atlanta,”

Death Notices

David Arthur, 74, of Alpharetta, passed away on April 14, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Marc Caruso, 42, of Alpharetta, passed away on April 17, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

• $3 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to support its Rising Together campaign to serve more children, more often, with greater impact.

• $1 million to CARE USA for its Humanitarian Surge Fund, which enables the rapid deployment of staff, equipment and resources when emergencies strike, delivering aid that saves lives while paving the way for long-term recovery.

• $500,000 from the AMB West Community Fund, a committee funded by the foundation and led by associates at Blank’s ranches in Paradise Valley, Mont., that invests in the local community.

• $1 million from the Molly Blank Fund to support the PJ Library, which provides free books to more than 600,000 Jewish children.

• $500,000 to The Carter Center to support its Georgia mental health program, as part of the foundation’s new Mental Health & Well-Being giving area.

she said. “It’s quite stunning to me. It’s different than any other city I’ve ever lived in. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s an important part of the tapestry of Atlanta.”

And Blank has been among Atlanta’s top philanthropic leaders for decades.

“The act of giving itself brings so much purpose to my life,” Blank said. “You always get more than you give, and it’s infectious. I’m inspired when others around me join in, and when I see our businesses and foundation coming together to bring more value to philanthropy and community service.”

Michael Dougherty, 67, of Roswell, passed away on April 14, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Judith Hill, 82, of Milton, passed away on April 17, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

• $9.25 million to the Energy Foundation to inform policymakers about the benefits of clean energy markets and commitments across regions, as part of the foundation’s new Environment giving area.

• $1.04 million to the Westside Future Fund to support the production of permanently affordable rental housing as part of the foundation’s recent $2.4 million in grants to increase financial security and affordable housing for legacy residents in Atlanta’s historic Westside.

This story originally appeared on SaportaReport.com.

Daniel Lazzaroni, 34, of Roswell, passed away on April 16, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Anne McShane, 90, of Milton, passed away on April 15, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Richard Merkel, 88, of Alpharetta, passed away on April 14, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Valeria Nagel, 87, of Johns Creek, passed away on April 16, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.