A Legacy Rooted in Vision and Service
Cason J. Callaway, born in 1894 in LaGrange, Georgia, was raised by his father, Fuller Earle, who believed privilege demanded responsibility, and his mother, Ida Cason, who provided warmth and guidance. From an early age, Cason learned the value of hard work—running summer food stands, farming with his brother, and attending military school, where he emerged as a natural leader.
After studying at the University of Virginia and the Eastman Business School, he joined the family textile business, starting at the bottom and working his way up to the position of treasurer. Through innovative leadership and ideas, like selling textile scraps in bulk, he transformed a struggling waste mill into a thriving operation, ultimately expanding the company from five to 14 plants. He married Virginia Hand from Pelham, Georgia. Soon after, they had their first child, Virginia (“Jinks”) Hand Callaway, born in 1921. Three years later, Cason (“Caso”) Jewell Callaway Jr. (1924), and then Howard (“Bo”) Hollis Callaway (1927) were born. During this time, Cason continued to steer the company through the Great Depression.
A proven business leader, Cason’s true passion emerged later in life. After fully retiring in 1938 to the family retreat at Blue Springs, he turned his focus to agriculture and became one of Georgia’s leading farmers and agricultural economists. He experimented with terracing, cover crops, and fertilizer to restore the soil, and raised a variety of animals and crops, including cattle, chickens, ducks, quail, turkeys, strawberries, blueberries, muscadines, fish, and kudzu. He also restored worn-out farmland through sustainable practices and launched the 100 Georgia Better Farms initiative—empowering farmers and proving depleted land could thrive again.
A heart attack in 1948 shifted Cason’s focus once more. With Virginia, he began transforming their land from a private vision into a public sanctuary. Callaway Gardens first opened in 1952 as Ida Cason Gardens—a living tribute to the land, to beauty, and the memory of Cason’s beloved mother. He wanted to "raise the picture a little higher on the wall" to make life a little happier for everyone.
Although Cason faced health problems in his later years, he worked tirelessly until his death in 1961, laying the groundwork for the Gardens' lasting legacy. He finished a book manuscript, approved the final plans for the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel, and finalized designs for Cason’s Vegetable Garden. Today, Callaway Resort & Gardens stands as a tribute to a man who believed in hard work, stewardship, and sharing beauty with the world.
Making A Garden Grow Through Service and Stewardship
Born on February 21, 1900, in Pelham, Georgia, Virginia Hollis Hand was raised in the warm embrace of Southern tradition. She was the daughter of Judson and Florence Hand, owners of the J. L. Hand Trading Company, a mercantile business. She grew up in a lively household in a large, sprawling home where her love of plants first took root as she helped cultivate camellias and other flowers. Educated at the Lucy Cobb School in Athens and the Merrill School in New York, Virginia carried herself with refined grace and an enduring curiosity about the natural world.
At a party in Atlanta, Virginia met Cason Callaway, who had just returned from serving in the Navy. Their connection was instant, and they married in 1920, beginning a lifelong partnership built on mutual purpose and affection. Settling in LaGrange, they raised three children while Cason managed the family’s cotton mills. When the Callaways moved to their beloved retreat at Blue Springs, Virginia’s role expanded far beyond that of wife and mother. Deeply philanthropic, she championed children’s education, organized Red Cross swimming lessons, and quietly sponsored countless summer camp experiences.
As she and Cason began shaping the vision for a public garden, Virginia’s early passion for plants blossomed into leadership. She directed the horticultural development of what would become Callaway Gardens, selecting native azaleas and flowers to line the lakeside paths. Together, they opened the Gardens to the public in 1952, turning private land into a sanctuary for everyone.
After Cason died in 1961, Virginia carried on with their mission. As Chairman of the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, she continued expanding the Gardens and in 1971 established the Cason J. Callaway Memorial Forest, preserving 3,000 acres for conservation education.
Her lifetime of work earned widespread recognition, including awards from the Georgia Wildlife Federation, the Garden Club of America, and the American Horticulture Society.
Virginia Callaway remained at Blue Springs until her passing in 1995, leaving behind not just gardens but a legacy of generosity, beauty, and vision that continues to grow.
