Blue Ridge Hospice Founder Helen Zebarth Honored at Berryville Ceremony

Helen Zebarth of Winchester, founder of Blue Ridge Hospice some 45 years ago, was honored with the formation of the Helen Zebarth Legacy Society, consisting of 16 high-end contributors who will help ensure the future of Blue Ridge Hospice.

The Berryville ceremony of May 8 was attended by most all of the newly elected members of the society, featuring not only new members of the Legacy but staff and volunteers, including former hospice chaplain Susan O’Kelly, now a part-time hospice volunteer, who led off the ceremonial with an invocation followed immediately by welcoming remarks by hospice President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Parson.

Joining Helen and her husband Roger Zebarth as founding members of the Legacy Society were Steven Allen, Ewan and Maybell Campbell, Susan B. and Richard A. Casey, Dawn Draayer, hospice’s Director of Philanthropy, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Jenkins, Gary Lambert, Margaret M. Myer, Michael Ricketts, and Dr. Leonard Yang and Janet Yang. All received framed certificates denoting their Legacy Society membership.

Left to right, President and CEO of Blue Ridge Hospice Jason Parsons, Roger Zebarth and wife Helen, founder of Blue Ridge Hospice. Courtesy Photo Blue Ridge Hospice

Helen Zebarth said she brought the idea of establishing a hospice in the area from a stay in England in the 1970s while her husband, a U.S. Army veteran, was based in Europe. England, evidently, is where the hospice concept originated a half-century or more ago.

While paying tribute to Blue Ridge Hospice’s large band of volunteers, board Chair Richard Kennedy described Helen as “our shining star.”  Helen said she decided at the time that on her return from the United Kingdom, “We need a hospice in Winchester.” And so, in 1974, the hospice opened there with 30 patients. By 2014, 10 years ago, Blue Ridge Hospice had tended to some 10,000 patients in “end of life care” — and the number kept climbing.

A group shot of Blue Ridge Hospice members and supporters attending the Berryville event on Wednesday, May 8.