<< Back 6/19/02 Means takes raven, begins retirement By Gary Carden When Beverly Means came to Bryson City as the director of the Marianna Black Library in 1984, she found her office occupied. Sitting on a high shelf behind her desk, she found a huge, stuffed raven. “I didn’t bother him,” said Means. “We got him down once and let him sit on the front desk during a Halloween party, but otherwise, he kept his council there above my head for 18 years.” Beverly came to see the somber fellow as a kind of guardian, someone who watched over her. Recently, Means retired — turned in her keys and removed the raven from his perch. “It seems fitting that he should go, too,” she said. “I’ll find him another perch where he can sit, surrounded by books.” Means’ departure did not go unnoticed. The Friends of Marianna Black Library hosted a farewell party, complete with all the usual trimmings and an impressive crowd showed up to eulogize, toast and tell stories about Means. Members of the Smoky Mountain Community Theater talked of Beverly’s contributions to them as a director. She directed “The Raindrop Waltz,” “South Pacific” and “The Wizard of Oz,” and performed in numerous productions, including, “Our Town,” “Into the Woods” and “The Foreigner.” She has also served as president, vice president and treasurer of the theater group. The Bryson City Rotary members noted her dedicated service to their organization and the community. Means organized the town’s highly successful Bed and Breakfast Tour. Her contributions to the Bryson City Woman’s Club were also acknowledged, and a host of friends and acquaintances testified to Means’ service to the region: Ed and Kaye Sharpe, former commissioner Meredith Bacon, Pete Lawson, editor of the Smoky Mountain Times, Gail Findlay, Fontana Regional Library director; Karen Wallace, director of the Macon County Library; Jean Bushyhead of Cherokee; and Mike and Jodie Kesselring. Numerous friends commented on their appreciation of Means’ presence in the community, and a number presented her with mementos. “I came here from California,” said Means, “but from the time that my husband, Gary, and I saw Swain County, we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives here. Now, it is time to sleep late, putter in the garden and read a great deal.”