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For one remarkable couple, making a difference is an innate gift
(Editor's Note: Carolina's Promise, under way on Thursday, May 10, is the University of South Carolina's Capital Campaign. This article is about John and Anne Rainey, both University of South Carolina alumni, whose generosity has had a significant impact on the communities in which they live and the Arnold School of Public Health. We will spotlight alumni, faculty, staff, and student achievements throughout the Capital Campaign.)
May 14, 2012
John Rainey established "Anne's Garden" at the Public Health Research Center in honor of his wife, Anne Edens Rainey, whose love for gardening has transformed the world around her.
Those who don’t know Anne Edens Rainey likely would see her first as a woman of great beauty and grace.
But friends and family know that her elegance and charm belie a woman whose commitment and dedication to gardening have enhanced the landscapes of the cities where she has lived and provided a backdrop of beauty for children, adults and visitors to enjoy.
Even in the heart of Columbia – not far from the noisy traffic of Assembly Street and the growing presence of the Vista – a garden named for Mrs. Rainey is a place where students find quiet time between classes and faculty seek peace away from the demands of research and teaching.
Anne's Garden, given by John Rainey to honor his wife, was unveiled at the 2006 dedication of the Public Health Research Center, the first building of the University of South Carolina's research campus Innovista.
For Mr. Rainey, the dedication marked a celebration of friendship with Norman J. Arnold, the School of Public Health's benefactor, and of love for his wife.
Anne's Garden was a surprise for Mrs. Rainey, and in presenting the garden, Mr. Rainey said, "I am very proud to have had the opportunity to both thank and honor Norman Arnold through the contribution of this garden which is named for the love of my life, Anne Edens Rainey.
"Anne's Garden within the Arnold School of Public Health is my way of thanking two people who have contributed so much to my personal happiness and my public service.
"As I thank you, Norman, I also thank Anne for her unwavering support and inspiration, which along with that of my parents, have made me who I am."
The centerpiece of the garden is a bronze fountain designed by Sandy Scott, one of the nation's premiere wildlife sculptors. The fountain is called "Las Palomas," translated from Spanish into "The Doves" in English and epitomizes the image of hope," Mr. Rainey said.
"Hope is the centerpiece for Anne's Garden and the inspirational core for the Arnold School of Public Health," he said at the dedication, explaining that doves have represented hope since they were first mentioned in the Old Testament's account of the Great Flood.
"Noah released a dove 'to see if the water had subsided from the face of the ground.' He repeated this several times, according to Scripture. Finally the dove returned, carrying a freshly plucked olive leaf in her mouth. In another seven days, Noah sent forth the dove again and, it is written, 'she did not return to him anymore.' "
Hope appeared as a dove in the New Testament, Mr. Rainey said, at the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan where "the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove."
"So, in our common Judeo-Christian heritage, life is all about hope," Mr. Rainey said.
The Raineys' story as a couple began April 25, 1985, when he met her while shopping for a gift. Her friends suggested that they have lunch. Later when he visited her home, he found that she was gardening. "She immediately put me to work," he said with a smile.
On a recent afternoon, the couple talked about their lives and their passion for horses, their travels and their German shepherds Bubba and Heidi. Mr. Rainey noted that every Southern family needed a Bubba. After living more than two decades in Columbia, the couple live in Camden, where they are active in the community's arts, historical and horse-racing circles. Their spacious home overlooks an expanse where their horses live and come close for visits with the couple who love them.
Mrs. Rainey's love for the environment has made an impact that will be felt for generations, and in 2008, she was chosen as the BMW Conservation Award Winner.
The award recognized Mrs. Rainey for having "inspired others to share her values and vision. Columbia and the State of South Carolina have benefited from her deep appreciation of our fragile environment, her love of history, and her boundless enthusiasm for making a difference."
In 1992, Mrs. Rainey went public with her passion for gardening as chairman of Columbia Green. Her leadership brought about the Gateway Beautification Project that has transformed major traffic arteries and gateways into garden spots that have received awards and glowing reviews from an admiring public.
To honor the Doolittle Raiders at their 50th reunion, Mrs. Rainey spearheaded the planting of 80 palmetto trees along the Gervais Street gateway. Ten years later, at the 60th reunion, Mrs. Rainey had a plaque with each Raider's name attached to a tree and a historic marker installed about their heroism during World War II.
Mrs. Rainey's volunteerism has mirrored her passion for the great outdoors and the environment. She embraced the idea of building the Palmetto Trail, a hiking trail traversing the state from the mountains to the sea, and she played a vital role in negotiating the Lake Moultrie and Fort Jackson Passages.
Her tenure as chairman of Palmetto Conservation Foundation led to several large conservation easements, protection of the Camden Polo Field, preservation of Revolutionary War battlefields of Camden, Blackstock and Musgrove Mill and the purchase of the Peak to Prosperity rail trail.
"Anne has done so much with the environment and our cultural heritage," Mr. Rainey said. "The garden was a way that I could honor Anne and my friend Norman Arnold at the same time. It all fit together in having the garden at the Public Health Research Center."
In 2008, the book "Anne's Garden" was printed to showcase the extraordinary and prolific flowers at their home in Colorado. This book followed a 2000 HGTV broadcast entitled "The Secret Gardens of Vail" in which "Anne's Garden" was featured. The state flower, the Blue Columbine, dominates the front garden of the home, but visitors will find other blooms as well – poppies, peonies, delphinia, lilies and more – that provide an explosion of color against a spectacular mountain setting.
"Anne's love for gardening has transformed the world around her, and she has worked tirelessly for the causes in which she believes," said Mr. Rainey, with a smile of admiration. "We started out this journey some time ago. It has been a pretty good run, and we've got more to do."
Those who have benefited from the Raineys' benevolence and leadership are looking forward to the couple's next endeavors.
To learn more about Carolina's Promise, visit http://giving.sc.edu/ .
