Deep in the rugged, off-trail terrain west of the Black Mountains in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge, my adventure partner Andy Kunkle and I made an exciting discovery on April 10, 2021. Pushing through dense forest, crossing stout streams and crawling in and under and over thickets of rhododendron, we suddenly encountered a serene and graceful double-drop waterfall enveloped in swirling fog and mist.

The unexpected beauty and steady, refreshing flow of the cascade immediately struck me as the perfect natural symbol for a very personal tribute. With Andy’s generous agreement, the previously undocumented feature was named Barbara Jean Falls in honor of my mother, Barbara Jean Crippen Mabry, affectionately called Bobbie.

Just as the waterfall’s persistent yet elegant descent nourishes the surrounding landscape, so too has my mother’s grace, energy, and unwavering support shaped and brightened the lives of our family and community.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I’m reminded that I’m a proud son of a native of Halls Crossroads in Knox County, Tennessee, just north of Fountain City. My mother and namesake of the falls lived much of her life in Fountain City and raised four children alongside my late father Jim: Thomas (known as Badger in the hiking and outdoors community), Mark, Michelle, and my late brother Jim Jr. All four of us siblings, like our mother, graduated from Central High School, and we all went on to earn degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. That family tradition continues strongly, with four of her grandchildren – Matt, Ashley, Parker, and Fleming – also graduating from UT.

Beyond her devoted roles as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Bobbie has led an active public life, serving as chairwoman of the Knoxville Dogwood Arts Festival, working for a decade in the Knox County Register of Deeds office, and serving on the Board of Appeals for the Knox County Property Assessment office. She has also enthusiastically supported numerous Tennessee state and local political campaigns for several Republican candidates, bringing her characteristic enthusiasm and organizational skill to every such endeavor.

At 94 years young and now residing in The Village at Bellevue in Nashville, my mother Barbara Jean Mabry continues to inspire those around her with her vibrant spirit. When I sent her the first images of the newly named Barbara Jean Falls, she was absolutely thrilled by the thoughtful gesture. A framed print of the waterfall now holds a prominent place in her domain, serving as a daily reminder of our family’s deep roots in East Tennessee and Appalachia and the ongoing adventures that keep our connections strong.

For me, the naming represents a joyful way to celebrate my mother’s enduring influence by turning a remote mountain discovery into a living, flowing tribute.

As Badger, formerly of Fountain Coty and now a longtime resident of Asheville, North Carolina, I’ve built a reputation for venturing off the beaten path to document and share lesser-known natural treasures of the Southern Appalachians through my hiking and photography.

My passion for exploration turns these hidden gems into stories that connect people to the beauty of the region and to the personal legacies that make life meaningful. Barbara Jean Falls stands as one such story, a place where misty cascades and lush surroundings invited Andy and me to pause, reflect, and appreciate both nature’s wonders and the quiet strengths of family.

Many of the HoneyBadgerImages are on display at instagram.com/honeybadgerimages.

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