Kandy Hale Maberry ’92 buys small historic church, renovates it and turns it into fine art gallery

When the former Church of Christ building in Graham, Texas, went up for sale three years ago, Kandy Hale Maberry ’92 saw an opportunity.

The circa 1885 church was on the small side, about 1,000 square feet, but had tons of potential.

“It was like this little jewel that just needed someone to polish it,” she said.

Maberry purchased the building and began the arduous renovation process – tearing down the false ceiling to reveal wooden beams, ripping out carpet to rediscover the old hardwood floors and exposing the original wood-paned windows.

In September, the building re-opened as Bellaford Fine Art Gallery, a modern art gallery and art teaching space named after Kandy’s two children, Isabelle, 9, and Ford, 6.

Maberry, who majored in art education, grew up in Graham she wanted to return to her hometown to raise her family. Once back home, she saw a need for a gallery to showcase contemporary artists.

She also saw an opportunity to finally realize a lifelong dream of teaching art to children. Her gallery includes an adjacent space where she holds hands-on classes, birthday parties and art camps.

So far, the reaction has been phenomenal, she said of the gallery, which can also be rented for special events.

“We’ve needed a space like this for a long time,” she said.