For Terri Denton, Harrisonburg will always feel like home. She remembers summers at Spotswood Country Club, running across the dirt trail, over a bridge with snakes below, and straight to the pool. “There was this little greasy stand that sold hot dogs and ice cream,” she says, smiling. “It was wonderful.”
The Denton family name has long been woven into Harrisonburg’s story. Terri’s great-grandfather, Jefferson Simon Denton, started J.S. Denton Furniture, first making coffins, then furniture. The store became a downtown landmark, a place local kids could wander through like a playground.
Her father carried that entrepreneurial spirit forward, shifting into real estate, pagers, and cell phones. But his legacy isn’t just measured in business ventures; in 1985, he founded the Denton Family Foundation to support the community that had always supported him.
“I’m really just a carbon copy of my father,” Terri says. “He loved people, and so do I.”
The Foundation’s signature event – the annual golf tournament held the first week of October – was Terri’s idea. Her father never had time for golf, but Terri saw the sport as a perfect way to blend fun, community, and giving.
Since its start, the tournament has raised more than half a million dollars for local causes, from the Salvation Army and Rescue Squad to First Tee and the SPCA. This year, proceeds will support Merci House.
Running the event is a family affair. Her brother Tripp, a golfer who recently scored a hole-in-one, jumps in enthusiastically. Her sister-in-law Linda takes care of the tech, volunteers, and behind-the-scenes details. Terri admits: “She does the things I’m not as good at. We really balance each other out.”
The tournament has had its unforgettable moments – like the year they ran out of beer, only to have more magically appear thanks to a generous friend. But through every challenge and every celebration, one thing stays constant: the Dentons’ commitment to giving back.
And Terri isn’t slowing down. “As long as my health allows, I’ll keep it going,” she says. For her part, once a week, Terri joins her girlfriends at Spotswood, proudly calling themselves the “Divine Nine.” Known for their style (always in coordinated outfits), they play as much for the laughs and conversation as for the game itself.
“Golf, for me, isn’t about the score,” Terri says. “It’s about people talking, sharing, and spending time together.”
Because for her, the Denton Family Foundation is more than an event. It’s about honoring her father’s belief that generosity builds communities.
And just like that little stand at the pool decades ago, it’s proof that sometimes the simplest joys – hot dogs, laughter, friends, and giving – leave the longest-lasting memories.
Sponsors, players, and volunteers can learn more or sign up at: www.dentonfamilyfoundation.com.
