News

Foundation presents Sauer, Marlow awards

Nancy Barber speaks to Community Foundation luncheon as Dan Barber and Lutrelle O’Cain look on. [PAULA ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY]

By Bill Moss, Published: November 11, 2023

At Hendersonville High School, Dan Barber played on two state championship teams — one in cross country and one in track. An award he received at commencement shaped his life.

“I received a Rotary Cup that was emblematic of someone that put service above self,” he said. “I felt very humbled then as I do now and I felt, ‘Well, if this is my legacy, I'm gonna fulfill this legacy after being honored this way.’”

Barber and his wife, Janet, were honored on Wednesday as this year’s recipients of the Richard & Vina Sauer Award for philanthropic and volunteer service to the community, one of the foundation’s two most prestigious awards. Sherri Metzger, a Realtor who has spent her retirement years serving in a variety of volunteer leadership and fundraising roles, was named the 2023 winner of the Dorothy Dellinger “Dot” Marlow Philanthropic Catalyst Award during the foundation's annual luncheon at Jeter Mountain Farm.

The Barber family came to Hendersonville in 1948.

“My father was a coach, a teacher, a principal and a superintendent of schools,” he said. “My mother was a teacher. They had three small children all under six years old, but no real financial future. With money borrowed from his mother and brother, my dad purchased a Western Auto franchise. This was a turning point in their lives — to change careers at 38 years old with no business experience and move to a town where they knew no one.”

Dan and Nancy have supported Fletcher and Flat Rock parks and the North Carolina Arboretum, given scholarships to Blue Ridge Community College, funded the Barber Christian Life Center at First United Methodist Church in honor of his parents, established the Veterans Memorial Garden at the Elizabeth House and given a grant of $500 to every Boy Scout who achieves the rank of Eagle at his Troop 601.

“Nancy’s passion was to serve others,” Barber said. “She chose to volunteer in the school system for 14 years. We taught fifth grade Sunday school at First United Methodist Church for 20 years and served as counselors for the Methodist Youth Fellowship for five years. … We feel very blessed to receive this award today. There are so many caring people in our community. Service to others is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this earth.”

Nancy Barber recalled a missionary’s story about a young boy, born blind, whose prayer every night was “Jesus, give me eyes.”

“So my prayer for myself and everybody here is for Jesus to give us eyes to see the need of others, whether it’s Henderson County or anywhere in the world, so that when we leave this earth, God will say, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’”

Metzger, has been active in retirement in several community organizations, including Interfaith Assistance Ministry, where she led fundraising efforts for the new IAM headquarters, and the Community Foundation of Henderson County.

“I believe that if we want to be involved in our community, we need to find things that we truly care about personally,” she said. “I feel that the Community Foundation has been one of the highlights of my life. … I was so surprised to learn that I was going to be receiving this Dot Marlow award. I knew Dot Marlow and she had an impact on my early career here and I remember her being involved in so many important things.”