Blackberry Farm’s Mary Celeste Beall offers experience, strength and hope to 2022 MC grads
May 7, 2022
Life has a way of disregarding the best-laid plans, but on the other side of the unexpected turns that can be both tragic and beautiful, there is opportunity.
That was the heart of the message of Mary Celeste Beall, proprietor of the internationally famous Blackberry Farm located in nearby Walland, Tennessee, gave to approximately 200 Maryville College graduates as the 2022 Commencement speaker. Beall, who inherited the role after the unexpected death of her husband, Sam, in 2016, also received the honorary doctor of humane letters degree during the May 7 event, held in Humphreys Court.
In her address to the Class of 2022, Beall recounted the tragic loss of her husband and its effects on her life, those of her children and on the operation of a Southern Appalachian retreat that has earned a worldwide reputation for hospitality and cuisine.
It has been named to Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List, regularly ranked among the best hotels and resorts by Travel + Leisure magazine and has earned three awards from the James Beard Foundation. In addition, Bon Appetit ranked it as the No. 1 Hotel for Food Lovers in 2013. But after that life-changing phone call, Beall was uncertain what the future would hold, she told the assembled crowd of graduates, faculty, staff and family members.
“We struggled through that night — my mother-in-law, father-in-law, my kids and close friends — but somehow, the next morning, I told myself that we were going to be okay,” Beall said. “And we are. Six years later, my children are thriving. Do we miss Sam more than one can imagine? Yes, but we are living on. We took one hour, then one day at a time, and slowly we found our footing thanks to our incredible support system — our faith, our family, our community near and far, and our amazing team at Blackberry.
“In those first few days and months, I learned so much about myself, about the power of community, and the importance of values and attitude. When I was graduating from college, the thought of being a 38-year-old widowed mother of five children never crossed my mind. But here I am celebrating every day I am given. You all have survived a global pandemic and your own unique challenges — facing the unexpected, adapting, and succeeding — and now you are entering one of the most exciting times of your life as a college graduate; there is so much to celebrate today.”
‘The only constant is change’
In laying out a theme for her speech, Beall went back to a quote from her senior year of high school: “The only constant is change.” Her parents divorced when she was in the third grade, she said, and after marrying Beall while living in Alabama, they moved to Virginia, Tennessee, California and back to Tennessee within a span of six years.
During that time, she obtained a master’s in accounting, became a certified public accountant and had five children, all before she was 35 years old. Three years later, she was content to raise her children, contribute to Blackberry Farm — started by her husband and father-in-law — and maintain the “beautiful rhythm” of life and family the couple had established in the Great Smoky Mountains. But that one phone call changed everything.
“In my situation, I was suddenly faced with parenting five children without my other half, and I jumped into the role of proprietor at Blackberry,” she said. “It was overwhelming, but I was determined to stay true to the goals Sam and I had created for our family and our mission for Blackberry, both of which guide my decision making.”
Thrust into the position, Beall and her in-laws have continued to position Blackberry Farm as one of the top small hotels in the world. She oversaw the opening of nearby wellness retreat Blackberry Mountain. And along the way, she’s accumulated personal philosophies and sharpened long-held beliefs that she imparted to the Class of 2022, beginning with: “Know what is important to you.”
“What are you not willing to sacrifice or change? Create a mission statement for yourself to define it,” she said. “What you say ‘no’ to is as important as what you say ‘yes’ to. It is okay to politely decline! Are there things we need to do even when we don’t want to? Yes. But make sure they align with your values, and guard yourself from falling victim to a false sense of obligation.
“I encourage you to write down your core values. If something doesn’t reinforce those values, then it shouldn’t be a priority. Say ‘yes’ to things that fill you up and make you a better version of yourself.”
By the same token, she added, graduates should surround themselves with people who do the same. A mentor can impart life lessons, and a community can lift up and support during tough times — and allow individuals to “maintain your own personal brand of hospitality,” she said, that’s often returned when it’s needed most.
“When tragedy or hardship hits, it doesn’t matter what you are wearing, what car you drive, how many likes you just got on Instagram, or what’s in your bank account — it’s about attitude and community,” she said. “How will you react and who will support you through it? Aside from my family and friends, the Blackberry team has always been beyond supportive of my children and me.
“They are passionate about keeping Sam’s vision alive for taking great care of our guests and owners and always striving for the best. I am honored to work with the outstanding group of humans who make Blackberry such a special place — and we’re always hiring!”
‘You have no idea what you can do’
Despite the more somber talking points, Beall’s address was at turns light-hearted and warm, a portrait of career success, personal struggle and the self-awareness of someone who learned the value of another important piece of advice she dispensed to graduates: ask for help when it’s needed.
“You may be receiving a degree today from esteemed Maryville College, but you are young and have a lot of life experience to gain,” she said. “Ask questions, be curious, and don’t be afraid to admit when you need support. Being vulnerable shows maturity and can open up doors you wouldn’t expect.”
Those doors, she added, are akin to chapters in a book, meant to be opened in turn, some larger and more intimidating than others. Challenge lies behind some, triumphs behind others, the everyday behind them all, she said.
“Life is all of those moments,” she said. “How we live our daily life sets the tone for how we feel and the energy we put into the universe. I encourage you to figure out what fills you up — daily, weekly and annually — what gives you energy to be your best. And in those tough stretches — when you are still finding your people in a new city, or figuring out what in the world you are supposed to do in your new job, or navigating life altering news with someone you love — take one day at a time knowing that life is a process, and we are meant to learn and grow from every day.
“We live in a society that focuses on the highlights — but life is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and the only way is through. It is those through moments when we have to dig in and push ourselves that build us into who we are meant to be. So, I challenge you to dig in and know that you will grow if you engage with an openness to learn. Having a plan for your life with goals and a vision for your future is important, just remember to enjoy the process — because the process is life.”
And life, she added, has a way of revealing hidden reservoirs of strength and talent that make individuals more capable than they may initially think. Case in point, she said: While she worked on various Blackberry projects while her husband ran the business, she never imagined stepping into the role of proprietor. Once she did, however, passion, knowledge and the experiences she had been collecting all along made her better prepared than she realized.
“Believe in yourself, follow your gut, and never say never,” she said. “You have no idea what you can do.”
In closing, she encouraged graduates to practice compassion and show kindness — to others, but also to themselves. Self-care, she added, is an important part of embracing the unexpected changes that are integral parts of lives well-lived.
“Take time to breathe — constant motion and ceaseless energy do not define success,” she said. “Taking time to prioritize your wellbeing and fill yourself with what you need is what will guide you to becoming your best self. Take time to have fun! Embrace change and the unexpected. Be willing to change! Changing is not a sign of weakness or sacrifice. It is a beautiful evolution. Each time you are presented with the unexpected: breathe. Trust your instincts and do the right thing no matter what. Don’t be paralyzed by the idea of perfection.
“Finally, the last and most important lesson that I will share with you today is: Make a great day. When my husband sent the kids off to school in the morning, he would say, ‘Bye, I love you, Make a great day.’ The keyword is ‘make.’ We may each have a plan for how we see our day going, but how you handle the unknowns — traffic jams, bad weather, negative feedback on a project you worked hard on, a rude encounter — is what determines how your day will go, and added together, how your life will go. You have the choice of how you are going to address each situation.
“Making a great day doesn’t mean every day is rainbows and joy or that we gloss over the difficult parts,” she added. “Make a great day is the celebration of the power of optimism and an active, engaged attitude. Take that positive, open, curious, active attitude with you everywhere you go, and you will discover the incredible good that this world has to offer you.”
Maryville College Faculty Recognized
As per tradition, two faculty members were recognized during the ceremony for outstanding service during the 2021-22 academic year. Dr. Dan Klingensmith, vice president and dean of the College, presented the awards, noting that they recognize the commitment and passion of the teachers who have worked to prepare these graduates for lives as citizens, leaders and educated persons.”
MC juniors and seniors nominate the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award, which was presented this year to Dr. Zachary Himmelberger, a lecturer in the Psychology Department — who was unable to attend due to his wife’s own graduation, Klingensmith noted. However, Himmelberger’s impact has been felt far beyond the classroom since he first joined the MC faculty in 2017, Klingensmith added.
“Since then, he has established a reputation for both teaching and also for mentoring student research,” Klingensmith said. “His training is in developmental psychology, and he has a particular teaching interest in the psychology of disability. The interest isn’t confined to the classroom; he is also the faculty advisor to the campus chapter of Best Buddies, a global organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Dr. Gabie Kerr, a lecturer in management (and soon to be assistant professor of management, Klingensmith noted) was named the runner-up for the Outstanding Teacher Award, an honor that reflected both her motivational abilities and her compassion, the dean noted.
“Students praise her not only for her mastery of her subject and ability to build their knowledge of it and their confidence in it, but also for her concern for her students’ general well-being, especially during these last few years of the pandemic,” Klingensmith said. “I wasn’t surprised to read any of these comments: At the end of March, I heard a student give a presentation on his experience at the College, in which he related how (Kerr) had noticed that he in particular would get a lot out of a special portfolio course she was offering and had gone out of her way to recruit him for it.
“He credited that course and her encouragement with helping him prepare for the job market and securing a job offer even before graduation.”
Charge to the Class of 2022
Before departing campus minister Rev. Anne McKee offered the invocation, Lesli Nolazco ’22 and Haley Davis ’22 represented their classmates on the dais positioned on the Humphreys Court plaza in front of Fayerweather Hall, the College’s oldest building — Anderson Hall — serving as the picturesque backdrop behind the audience. Nolazco’s remarks were notable because a portion of them was delivered in Spanish, a nod to the College’s first group of Equal Chance for Education graduates, scholarship recipients made up mostly of Dreamers whose parents brought them to this country as children.
“Thank you for everything and for bringing us here for our studies, even though you came to this country with nothing,” Nolazco told them in their native language. “We dedicate this to you. Because just look at your sons and daughters — making history for years to come.”
After degrees were conferred to this year’s graduates, Maryville College President Dr. Bryan F. Coker noted that as newly minted alumni, they now have a duty — to take the knowledge and insight gathered at MC into the wider world, and to employ it in a way that allows them to “do good on the largest possible scale.”
“Go forth from the campus gates, knowing that you will always have a home here … here where Chilhowee’s lofty mountains pierce the Southern blue,” Coker said, paraphrasing part of the College’s alma mater. “Go forth knowing that good, thoughtful and loving words have been spoken for you here, in this place filled with hopes, dreams, teachers, mentors, coaches and friends.
“And as you go forth, we hope you will return often in the years to come — return and share with us your successes and your struggles, just as you have done during your time here.”
