Gilliam Praised As A ‘Visionary’ In Historic Preservation

May 27, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette:

On May 10, 2024, Historic Lexington Foundation lost Mary Stuart McGuire Gilliam, one of its founding members.

Mary Stuart was a visionary who believed in the preservation of historic Lexington. In 1966, her leadership assisted in creating the Historic Lexington Foundation when an important structure was threatened with demolition.

Throughout her life she guarded the historic structures of our city. She could often be found in her garden where friends would stop for impromptu discussions of gardening, conservation, and the protection of our significant buildings.

This past year we visited Mary Stuart and she spoke of the origins of HLF, which began with conversations and ideas she had with friends Royster Lyle, Matt Paxton Jr., Louise Pendleton Moore, Madeline Davis and others. She related that these discussions began to advance as needs became obvious - with downtown Lexington being a priority.

She was also a major force in the 1964 reactivation of the Rockbridge branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. But later, when purchasing buildings to save them became the goal, a new nonprofit organization was obviously needed and Historic Lexington Foundation was Mary Stuart’s answer.

We send our condolences to her family for the loss of this amazing woman, remembering her for a life well-lived, as well as her gracious and steadfast leadership. BEVERLYTUCKER Past President, HLF MARGARETSAMDAHL, Executive director, HLF Rockbridge County