Patrick County is blessed with many beautiful parks, including the I.C. DeHart Memorial Park in Woolwine and Alice T. DeHart Park in Stuart. Many enjoy their scenic views, athletic facilities, and gathering spaces—but how many know the inspiring story behind their creation?
Alice Thompson was born on January 18, 1886, to Waddy and Mary Ann Cockram Thompson. Tragically, Alice’s mother died just four days later due to childbirth complications. Alice was left motherless, and Waddy had now endured the heartbreaking loss of two young wives. His first wife, Exony Martin, passed away in 1883 after having two children. He married Mary Ann Cockram in April 1885, and Alice was born nine months later.
In the 1900 census, Waddy was living with his sister’s family, while young Alice was raised by her maternal grandparents, Isham and Elizabeth Salmons Cockram, in Woolwine’s Raven’s Den section. She continued to live with her Cockram grandparents according to the 1910 and 1920 census records. By the 1930 census, Alice was living with her two unmarried aunts, Martha and Flora Cockram, and was working as a chiropractor.
Remarkably, according to local lore, Alice Thompson became the first female chiropractor in the Commonwealth of Virginia—a pioneering achievement in the early 20th century.
The above photograph of Isham Cockram, and several of his children and grandchildren, was provided by Danny Compton. Alice Thompson is the dark-haired girl on the far left with her hands in her apron pockets.
At the age of 45, Alice married 65-year-old Isaac Carrell “Ike” DeHart, and together they lived on Route 40 in Woolwine. While the couple had no children of their own, Alice’s love for the community of Patrick County was evident in the generous and lasting gift she left behind. Alice T. DeHart made the extraordinary decision to donate the I.C. DeHart estate to benefit the citizens of Patrick County.
In her will, dated December 20, 1970, Alice created the DeHart Foundation, placing her trust estate in the hands of three trustees: R.W. Handy, Dr. Samuel P. Massie, and Rev. Robert W. Mann. Her instructions were clear: the estate was to be used for charitable purposes, with special emphasis on recreation, preservation of her homeplace, and protection of wildlife.
“It is my greatest hope that my Trustees will be able to preserve as much of my real estate as practical for some useful purpose beneficial to the people of my county,” she wrote. “I am especially desirous that the homeplace be maintained.”
Alice also expressed a deep love and concern for animals, requesting that no hunting be allowed on her land and that no animals be raised for slaughter. She even considered dedicating her estate as a wildlife sanctuary.
After her passing on March 17, 1971, plans were put in motion to fulfill her wishes. In 1977, the DeHart Estate—valued at $363,500—was officially transferred to Patrick County. With funding from a 50% matching grant from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation in Richmond, and using the land as collateral, Patrick County began developing a system of recreational facilities.
The first park established was Alice T. DeHart Park in Stuart, followed shortly after by the I.C. DeHart Park in Woolwine, and parks in Meadows of Dan, Ararat, and Patrick Springs. These parks have since become cherished parts of community life, hosting ball games, horseshoe tournaments, tennis matches, picnics, and more.
Sadly, on a December morning in 1989, the DeHart homeplace—a historic structure more than 140 years old—was destroyed by fire. The Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department responded quickly, but the blaze, believed to have started in the chimney flue, had already engulfed the house.
For years after her death, the home was occupied by local families who served as caretakers. At the time of the fire, the residents escaped unharmed, but the contents of the home were lost.
Despite the loss of the home, Alice DeHart’s vision endured. Even as flames consumed the physical structure, her legacy continued to grow through the parks she made possible.
Thanks to Alice T. DeHart’s foresight and generosity, generations of Patrick County residents have enjoyed outdoor recreation, community connections, and access to nature. Her love for her hometown, its land, and its people continues to ripple outward through every nature hike, youth game, and family picnic held in the parks that bear her name.
For questions, comments, or suggestions for stories, Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
