Honoring Blake’s life by supporting children at Ruth’s WARM House.
Keep Blake’s Joy and Kindness in Motion
Honoring Blake’s Life by Supporting Children at Ruth’s WARM House
A new charitable fund has been established to honor the life, spirit, and lasting joy of Blake Durrett—a 2018 Waynesboro High School graduate remembered for his outgoing personality, sharp humor, love of Batman and The Walking Dead, and his perfectly styled afro blowout.
Created by Smooth Athletics co-owners Shannon Boyle and Jason Miller, the Blake Durrett Fund celebrates Blake’s legacy by supporting children living at Ruth’s WARM House, a shelter for women and children working toward financial, emotional, and spiritual stability.
About Blake
To those who worked alongside him at Smooth Athletics—a Waynesboro-based business specializing in promotional products—Blake wasn’t just a valued employee. He was family.
A large photo of Blake hangs in the Smooth Athletics office, a daily reminder of his warmth and humor.
“Blake was an integral part of the Smooth family,” said co-owner Shannon Boyle. “He was a talented and insightful employee, a concerned and helpful friend, and a never-ending source of smiles and laughter. He was our comic relief.”
Purpose of the Fund
The Blake Durrett Memorial Fund, administered by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, exists to ensure that children staying at Ruth’s WARM House have access to:
- Necessary material items
- Extracurricular school activities
- Summer camps, swim lessons, tutoring
- Other costs that help kids experience normalcy and joy
Co-owner Jason Miller shared that the idea grew naturally:
“Blake’s impact on Smooth is immeasurable, and we thought long and hard about how to honor his memory. Many people reached out asking how they could do something in his honor. Helping the kids at WARM felt like the perfect fit.”
How to Give by Check
Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge
P.O. Box 815
Staunton, VA 24402
Please note “The Blake Durrett Memorial Fund” in the memo line.