A new fund has been established to honor the life of Blake Durrett and support children staying at Ruth’s WARM House.
The Blake Durrett Memorial Fund was created by Smooth Athletics co-owners Shannon Boyle and Jason Miller in memory of their former employee. An outgoing and beloved member of the Smooth Athletics team, Durrett was a 2018 graduate of Waynesboro High School, known for his humor, love of Batman and The Walking Dead, and his perfectly styled afro blowout.
Durrett was considered part of the family at Smooth Athletics, a Waynesboro-based business specializing in logo design, embroidery, screen printing, and promotional products. A large framed photo of Durrett hangs in the office, serving as a daily reminder of his presence and spirit.
“Blake was an integral part of the Smooth family,” Boyle said. “Not only as a talented, insightful, and hard-working employee, but as a caring and supportive friend. Blake was interested in everyone at Smooth. A never-ending source of smiles and laughter, he was our comic relief.”
The fund will be administered through the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.
“If you stop by Smooth Athletics and mention Blake’s name, prepare to stay awhile and enjoy the heartwarming stories, smiles on every face, and plenty of laughter,” said Dan Layman, CEO of the Community Foundation. “Blake brought so much joy into everyone’s life, which is what Shannon and Jason want to perpetuate through this fund. It is our privilege to partner with them to make that happen.”
Ruth’s WARM House is a shelter for women and their children. More than providing a roof overhead, the program helps mothers work toward financial, emotional, and spiritual stability, with a goal of long-term success.
The Blake Durrett Memorial Fund will help ensure children at the WARM House have access to necessary items, extracurricular school activities, and other opportunities that support a sense of normalcy.
“Blake’s impact on Smooth is immeasurable, and we thought long and hard about how to honor his memory,” Miller said. “Interestingly, many people outside of Smooth reached out to us asking how they could honor Blake as well.”
Supporting children at Ruth’s WARM House felt like a natural fit.
“For starters, Blake was a kid at heart,” Boyle said. “He loved and supported children throughout his adult life and made sure the kids he spent time with felt valued and cared for. Our connection with WARM just felt like the perfect avenue.”
Alec Gunn, Director of WARM Ministries, agrees.
“This fund will make a significant impact on the lives of children we serve,” Gunn said. “It provides opportunities for participation and engagement that may not have been possible otherwise.”
That impact is exactly what the Smooth Athletics owners envisioned.
“Our goal is for children, especially those experiencing housing insecurity, to have a sense of normalcy,” Boyle said. “We want them to never worry about whether they can afford summer camp, swim lessons, or tutoring.”
It is what Durrett would have wanted.
“We want those kids to know,” Miller added, “that no matter their situation, someone is cheering them on — just like Blake would have.”
Donations to the Blake Durrett Memorial Fund may be made to the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge by check (P.O. Box 815, Staunton, VA 24402 | Please note Blake Durrett Memorial Fund in the memo.) Or online HERE.
