Marla Black leads Burke Habitat for Humanity with love and kindness

When you ask her what she likes best about Burke County, Marla Black’s eyes light up as she talks about the lakes and the mountains, and she radiates love and kindness when she talks about the community.

Black, who has worked with Burke County Habitat for Humanity since 2000 and currently serves as executive director, said her favorite part of the job is working with families the organization serves and meeting volunteers on construction sites.

“Through the years, it’s just been a blessing to get to know so many people from so many diverse backgrounds,” Black said.

Habitat for Humanity is a national nonprofit with local organizations that help people in need build, repair, or finance a home. Burke County’s organization was established in 1988 and as of 2025, has built more than 160 homes.

Habitat homes are affordable and sold to qualified applicants with 0% interest. Those who qualify must make monthly mortgage payments and invest a substantial amount of work in the building process.

Black said she and her husband, Bryan, once ran Blackfield’s Furniture in downtown Morganton. An opportunity then arose for Bryan to go into the corporate world, she said. He took it and the two closed the successful store.

Black then took on a job as an accountant.

“It felt like I moved papers from one side of the building to the next,” she said. “I missed being involved in our community.”

A friend then told Black they were leaving their job at Habitat, and encouraged her to apply.

“It was a way to be involved in the community again,” Black said. “And also it offered me a schedule where I could still be involved with my children, because at that point in time, they were in elementary and middle school.”

With the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer, it’s almost time for Habitat’s 2026 construction season, and Black said the Burke organization could use some volunteers willing to spend their Saturdays helping build or repair homes in the area.

Black said a contractor is always on-site and can train those without construction experience and all tools are provided.

Saturday crews work from 8 a.m. to noon, Black said. Work may start at 7 a.m. during the hotter months of the year, and will end when the temperature reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit for safety reasons.

The first day of work is April 11. Those interested can call the Burke Habitat for Humanity office at 828-437-0370 or email Black at mblack@burkehabitat.org.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What is something you are especially passionate about right now?

Habitat increasing the number of houses that they build each year, and we are doing that right now. We are doing that because the need for affordable housing is greater now than it has been in the whole 25 years that I’ve worked with Habitat. And so, we are looking for creative ways to increase our capacity whether that’s through funding or volunteers or finding more land that’s affordable to build on. We just know the need is great.

How do you like to spend your time when you’re not working?

I liked to work in the yard with flowers and landscaping and such at my house until recently. We have two grandchildren now. We have a 3-year-old grandson and a 3-week-old granddaughter, and they get all of my time now. I would have it no other way. We just love spending any time we can with them.

What do you love most about living in Burke County?

What I love most is the beautiful nature we have here. Driving to work every morning, you see beautiful mountains. We have beautiful rivers and lakes and all that. There’s so much to appreciate in nature. And then I also love the people in Burke County, because by and far at the end of the day, they are kind. They care for one another and they make this a good place to live.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your neighbors?

Be kind to one another and be willing to talk with one another, even if you think you have differences, because at the end of the day we’re all more alike than we realize.