Cobb Trust continues legacy of giving with $542,837 in local grants

Faith and education institutions lead Beatrice Cobb Trust’s 2025 distributions totaling $542,837

The trust was established in 1969 to channel the legacy of Beatrice Cobb — longtime publisher of the The News‑Herald in Morganton — into sustained philanthropic support for Burke County and journalism-related organizations.

The 2025 distribution continues a long-standing pattern of Cobb’s support for local faith institutions, educational bodies (notably multiple UNC campuses and community colleges), recreation and library services, and smaller discretionary programs.

The largest awards for this year, $85,317 each to First United Methodist Church of Morganton and the UNC School of Journalism, underscore the trust’s dual focus on community faith-based life and higher education.

The inclusion of multiple universities (UNC School of Journalism, UNC Greensboro, Greensboro College) reflect Cobb’s own professional roots in journalism and leadership in public life.

The trustees for 2025 (Scott Whisnant, Steve Gregory and Jack Weir) announced the following allocations:

Annual Recipients

• First United Methodist Church of Morganton: $85,317
• UNC School of Journalism: $85,317
• Junior Order Children’s Home: $56,879
• Christmas Cheer Fund: $28,439
• UNC Health Blue Ridge – Morganton: $28,439
• Greensboro College: $28,439
• City of Morganton: $28,439
• UNC Greensboro: $28,439
• Gaston Chapel AME Church: $17,064
• Calvary Lutheran Church: $17,064
• First Baptist Church of Morganton: $17,064
• First Presbyterian Church of Morganton: $17,064
• Grace Episcopal Church: $17,064
• Crossnore School and Children’s Home: $17,064
• Morganton Parks and Recreation Foundation: $17,064
• Burke County Public Library: $17,064
• Slades Chapel AME Church: $17,064
• Morganton Women’s Club: $8,853

Discretionary Recipients

• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics: $2,000
• Good Samaritan Clinic: $2,000
• Alder Springs Deaf & Blind Community: $2,000
• History Museum of Burke County: $2,000
• Burke Arts Council: $900
• Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina: $900
• Mimosa Christian Counseling Center: $900

Beatrice Cobb was born in Morganton on Nov. 13, 1888, and died Sept. 11, 1959.

She began teaching in 1909 and entered the newspaper business in 1913. Upon the death of her father in 1916, she became owner and publisher of The News-Herald. Cobb was active in Democratic-party affairs and served as a national committee-woman for North Carolina from 1934 to 1952.

The highway through Burke and Avery counties (N.C. 181) bears her name in recognition of her contributions.

Trust designees picked up their distribution checks on Friday, Nov. 14, at the Beatrice Cobb Trust office, 102 Collett St., Morganton. For more information, call trustee Steve Gregory at 828-438-7083.