Board Member Plants Seeds for Duke Raleigh Garden

BOARD MEMBER PLANTS SEED FOR DUKE RALEIGH GARDEN

(Raleigh, NC) -- Those visiting the Duke Raleigh Hospital campus will soon be able to go to a pristine and tranquil garden for respite. The unique Duke Raleigh Garden is made possible through a generous lead gift from the family of Duke Raleigh Advisory Board Member Carolyn Grant. Carolyn and her son Forrest made the contribution in honor of Forrest’s grandfathers, W. Carrel Willis and W. Forrest Grant.

“Carrel Willis had radiation treatments at Duke Raleigh Cancer Center,” Carolyn said. “We started thinking about how we could honor Forrest’s grandfathers and decided a peaceful, tranquil place for staff, patients and families to relax seemed to be the perfect way.”

Both grandfathers loved nature. Mr. Willis was a lifelong farmer and Mr. Grant enjoyed working in his flower and vegetable gardens.

Located in the vacant grassy lot adjacent to Medical Office Building 7 (3404 Wake Forest Road), the Duke Raleigh Garden will be created in three phases. Phase one began on Monday, July 23. Carolyn worked with hospital representatives and landscape designer Ran Johnston to develop the first phase of the garden including water features, walking paths and foliage with North Carolina’s native plants.

Although Carolyn currently owns Omega Property Group, a North Carolina Real Estate and Development Company, the plans for the garden came naturally for her due to her extensive experience in horticulture as previous owner of Plants by Grant. Plants by Grant was an interior landscape business which installed and maintained interior plants for businesses throughout North Carolina.

Carolyn said she realizes the importance of nature in the healing process. In 1987 she was treated for ovarian cancer at Duke Hospital. “My personal experience with the excellent care I received at Duke has made me a big supporter of Duke Medicine,” she said. “I also know how important quiet time and reflection can be in the healing process.”

Carolyn said that everyone has ways they can contribute to their community. “It’s how we grow, but it’s also so much more than that. It is how we can collectively make a difference.”

Phases two and three of the Duke Raleigh Garden will be completed as funding initiatives continue. For more information about the Garden, please contact Carla Hollis at 954-3257.

Duke Raleigh Hospital, a part of the world-renowned Duke University Health System, is a 186-bed acute-care facility on Wake Forest Road in North Raleigh with services including a cancer center, orthopaedic center, diabetes center, wound healing center, 24-hour emergency department, intensive and critical care, cardiovascular center, cardiac and pulmonary rehab wellness services and community education. For more information, visit www.dukeraleighhospital.org or call 919-954-3293.

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