Today, we say goodbye to one of Orange Habitat’s most devoted and beloved supporters – Blanche Clark.

Blanche passed away last month at the age of 104, leaving behind a legacy of generosity, joy, and deep commitment to the belief that everyone deserves a decent place to live. She and her late husband, Dr. Henry Toole Clark Jr., helped shape the foundation of our local Habitat affiliate.

• Henry and Blanche organized the very first Habitat partnership between The Chapel of the Cross and UNC Greek life. This partnership helped begin a strong collegiate club at UNC Chapel Hill, which is still one of the largest and most active clubs in the country.
• Henry and Blanche traveled to Americus, Georgia to hear Habitat for Humanity International Founder Muller Fuller preach. This visit lead to a chance encounter, meeting with President Jimmy Carter, a story she recalled during our 40^th anniversary celebrations last year.
• In celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Henry and Blanche offered Habitat a $50,000 challenge: they offered to match the first $10,000 raised by each of five new partnerships that would commit to fully sponsor and build a Habitat home. By stretching to achieve the challenge, we brought our affiliate to a new level of house production, fundraising, and volunteer engagement.
• To honor their impact, they are the namesakes of our leadership giving circle, The Henry and Blanche Clark Society, which recognizes donors who give $1,000 or more annually. It is a tribute to their extraordinary dedication and the lasting strength they brought to our community.

During her service today, Reverend Elizabeth Marie Melchionna, Rector of The Chapel of the Cross, shared in her words the impact that Blanche and Henry had with Orange Habitat: 

“Henry’s care for others drew Blanche to Henry. And together, they shared decades of a life that not only took them all over the world, but also led them to create new models of relationships between fraternities and sororities, as well as Habitat, which is now modeled across the country. They changed many lives through Habitat. If you’d seen Blanche recently, you’d know how proud she was of the Weavers Grove street named in her honor.”

Her legacy lives on, not only on Blanche Way in Chapel Hill, but in every home we build, every family we serve, and every supporter who believes in the power of community. Her life reminds us that generosity can be joyful, partnerships can be powerful, and that lasting change is built one act of kindness at a time.

If you feel moved to honor Blanche’s memory, we invite you to learn more about the Henry and Blanche Clark Society or consider making a gift in her honor. Your support ensures that the vision she and Henry shared continues to grow.