Mary Clare Davis, great-granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, is set to reign as queen of the 98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, festival President Jeremy Luttrell announced Thursday evening.
“I’m so excited and honored to be Queen-designate for the 98th Apple Blossom Festival!” Davis said in a media release. “This event has held a special place in my family’s heart for so long.”
This year’s festival is set for April 25 through May 4, with over 50 events on the schedule. The coronation, where Davis will be crowned by her mother, will be held on May 2 at 1:30 p.m. at John Handley High School.
Davis is the latest member of Billy Graham’s family to participate in Apple Blossom festivities. The family has been attending the festival since 1972, when Graham served as the festival’s grand marshal, according to the release. Graham died in 2018 at age 99.
Davis is the granddaughter of Ruth Bell Graham and the daughter of Maury and Noelle Davis, who was queen of the festival in 1993. Another great-granddaughter of Billy Graham’s, Virginia Isabella Baker, was crowned queen of the 92nd festival in 2019.
Davis, a junior at Grace Christian High School in Staunton, will take part in numerous festival events, including the Firefighters’ Parade and the Grand Feature Parade.
At school, Davis plays varsity basketball. Her team had a winning season recently and became 2025 VACA girls’ state champions. She also was a part of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, or IEA, team at Memory’s Hill Stables in Waynesboro during her freshman year.
Dedicated to “Christ-centered community,” Davis serves as a student leader and sponsor for sixth grade girls at her church. She participated in a mission trip with Street Ranch Ministries in Memphis last summer and plans to return this June.
In addition to sports and faith, she is a fan of the arts, especially poetry and music.
“Whether I’m singing, writing, or just getting lost in a great song, creativity is where I feel most at home,” Davis said.
The release notes that she “loves photography, spending time with her friends and spending time outside, especially with her ‘sweet duckies.’”
“Being part of the Apple Blossom Festival this year is truly a dream come true, and I can’t wait to take part in all the festivities,” Davis said in the release. “I’m so looking forward to meeting new people, making unforgettable memories, and celebrating everything that makes this festival so special!”
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