08/25/2026
Today, we mourn the loss of Dolly Parton while celebrating the incredible legacy she leaves behind. 💗📚
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library came to Martinsville and Henry County in 2014 with an initial budget of just $500 and the goal of enrolling around 100 children.
The journey began with a launch celebration at the Maplewood Housing Community, where community partners gathered to read with children and kick off Dolly’s dream in our area.
Today, we proudly have 2,189 children currently enrolled, and 5,252 children have graduated from the program right here in our community.
More than 8,000 local children have experienced the joy of receiving a book in their mailbox each month. This initiative has helped them build home libraries, encouraged families to read together, and created a foundation for a lifelong love of reading.
As Dolly says, “By inspiring parents to read to their children, we can help them dream more, learn more, care more, and be more.”
Reflecting on the thousands of children touched by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in our community, her words hold especially profound meaning today.
From the first 100 children to the 5,252 graduates, Dolly’s dream has become part of the story of Martinsville and Henry County.
Her legacy will endure through every book delivered, every story shared, and every child whose imagination is sparked by the simple gift of a book. 💕📖
Dolly Parton, a Hollywood star and a beloved American icon, has died at 80, her family announced. Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, announced the news in a video posted on her Instagram. He did not provide details about her death.
