
	Triangle Land Conservancy 1101 Haynes Street Suite 205 Raleigh, NC 27604 919.833.3662

TLC Executive Director's Message

Passing the torch

July 2005

The Triangle’s conservation community lost a strong voice this year. Mary “Bunny” Stone passed away on February 9 from complications following heart surgery.

Bunny lived on Rainy Day Farm along the Deep River in Chatham County, and she was the caring steward of forestland that provided her income as well as a sanctuary for the songbirds that she loved.

Bunny threw herself into conservation causes. She served on TLC’s board of directors and many Chatham County commissions. Elected officials knew that they would be held accountable on conservation issues when Bunny came calling. Even as Bunny grew more ill over the last several months, she continued calling TLC’s office to make certain we knew the latest county happenings.

I got to know Bunny while working on a conservation easement for her forestland on the Deep River upstream of TLC’s White Pines Nature Preserve. Plans for the conservation easement remained unfinished at her death. I watched her health decline during these visits, but her spirit and belief that we should leave a light footprint on this earth never wavered. Bunny was a fiery Louisianan, but she had a kind heart and ever-present smile.

The funeral home where I visited Bunny for the last time to offer her family TLC’s condolences was filled with photographs from her lifetime, and it was evident that she dearly loved her family. There was also a quote from G eorge Bernard Shaw that the family displayed. It defined Bunny’s life perfectly.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. Life is no 'brief candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

She will be missed, but Bunny’s splendid torch will continue to burn brightly as we carry it forward and hand it to the next generation.

Kevin Brice, TLC Executive Director

TLC President's Message Archive

February 2008 Time to celebrate
November 2007 Deep River deservedly recognized
August 2007 Land: They're not making any more of it
May 2007 TLC's landscapes are works of art
November 2006 TLC collaborates for conservation successes
August 2006 Members drive TLC's success
May 2006 Planting trees and promoting peace
November 2005 Big opportunity for Triangle conservation
July 2005 Passing the torch