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Frugal schoolteacher's final gift is $1.2 million

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE EXCHANGE

Published: June 26, 2009

FAYETTEVILLE
Before she died in 2007, Flora Cornelia Bullock Wilkins gave $10,000 to the Cumberland Community Foundation for the creation of an endowment fund.

But she had even bigger plans, The Fayetteville Observer reported.

Frugal all her life, the retired Fayetteville schoolteacher had amassed a fortune in savings, investments and property.

In early June, Wilkins' nephew and estate executor dropped off the last of four financial gifts from his aunt to the foundation. When the staff opened the white envelope, a check for $1.2 million was inside.

In all, Wilkins gave $2.7 million to the endowment.

Mary Holmes, executive director for the foundation, said the generosity was inspiring.

"We usually don't know how much people will give or when," she said. "We don't know if it will be $1 or $100. So it really was eye-opening."

The gift made the 2008-09 giving season the biggest ever at Cumberland Community Foundation, Holmes said. The foundation has received 1,461 gifts totaling $7.1 million, she said.

"There are more people who can give $100 than there are that can give $100,000," Holmes said. "It is a very generous community. Together, everyone can make this a better place to live."

What is it that you care about? Is there anything you want to support, for good -- forever?

Those are questions that Holmes has asked a thousand times, questions central to the role of the foundation in the community.

In December 2005, Wilkins seriously began thinking about those questions. After her stockbroker suggested giving Holmes a call, the two talked for months. By March 2006, the former English teacher at Alexander Graham Junior High School had made her mind up: She would start an endowment dedicated to funding programs to better education, improve senior citizens' lives and help people get access to health care. She wanted to make sure the Cape Fear Botanical Garden got some money, too.

Each of those things that Wilkins cared about will get one-fourth of the yearly income earned on the endowment.

"We are deeply grateful for Mrs. Wilkins' extraordinary gift," said Jennifer Sullivan, resource director at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden off U.S. 301. "Her generosity and spirit will resonate for years to come as we continue to grow this beautiful garden."

Wilkins was born on a farm near Autryville, the youngest of five girls. She was a teacher until her marriage to Dr. Samuel B. Wilkins, a doctor at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Fayetteville. The Wilkinses did not have children. Dr. Wilkins died in the 1970s.

Flora Wilkins was always fond of the people of Cumberland County, said her nephew, Walt Bullard of Wilmington.

"She was a remarkable lady who did a lot of good things while she was alive," Bullard said. "And she will continue to do so, in death."