AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) — A new charitable fund has been established to honor the life of Blake Durrett and support children staying at Ruth’s WARM House in Waynesboro.

Smooth Athletics co-owners Shannon Boyle and Jason Miller created the Blake Durrett Fund in memory of their former employee, who died earlier this year. Durrett, a 2018 Waynesboro High School graduate, was known among colleagues and friends for his humor, his love of Batman and The Walking Dead, and his signature afro blowout. Inside the Smooth Athletics office, a large framed photo keeps his presence close.

“Blake was an integral part of the Smooth family,” Boyle said. “He was a talented, insightful, hard-working employee, but also a caring friend. He was a constant source of smiles and laughter.”

The fund will be administered by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. CEO Dan Layman said the organization is honored to help continue Durrett’s legacy.

“If you stop by Smooth Athletics and mention Blake’s name, prepare to hear heartwarming stories and plenty of laughter,” Layman said. “Shannon and Jason want to perpetuate the joy Blake brought into everyone’s life, and we’re privileged to partner with them.”

Ruth’s WARM House provides shelter and support for women and their children, offering stability and resources to help families achieve long-term success. The new fund will help ensure kids at the shelter have access to needed supplies, extracurricular activities, and other expenses that promote normalcy and growth.

“Blake’s impact on Smooth is immeasurable, and we thought long and hard about how to honor his memory,” Miller said. “Many people outside of Smooth reached out asking how they could honor Blake.”

Supporting children at WARM House felt like the natural choice, Boyle added.

“Blake was a kid at heart,” she said. “He always made sure the children in his life felt loved and supported. Our connection with the WARM House made this feel like the perfect fit.”

Alec Gunn, director of WARM Ministries, said the fund will open doors for children who might otherwise miss out.

“This will provide opportunities that may not have been possible before,” Gunn said.

For Boyle and Miller, that impact reflects exactly what they hope the fund will achieve.

“The goal is to give kids facing housing insecurity a sense of normality,” Boyle said. “We want every child supported by WARM to never worry about whether they can afford a summer camp, a swim lesson, or tutoring.”

It’s a mission they say aligns perfectly with Durrett’s spirit.

“We want those kids to know that no matter their situation, someone is cheering them on — just like Blake would have,” Miller said.

Donations to the Blake Durrett Fund can be made through the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge by mail (P.O. Box 815, Staunton, VA 24402) or online at www.cfcbr.org. Note “The Blake Durrett Fund” in the memo line.