At the Eighty-fourth Annual Meeting of The Garden Club of Virginia held in Harrisonburg, Virginia, May 18 – 20, 2004, Dorothy Harris Montgomery (Mrs. James B.) was awarded the Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement for her leadership, service, advocacy and devotion to The Garden Club of Virginia.

This award, first given in 1929, is the highest and most prestigious award given by The Garden Club of Virginia to an individual member, an honorary member or a member club.  Outstanding work in gardening, service of unusual dedication and distinction to The Garden Club of Virginia, improving the quality of life or effective protection, restoration or preservation of the natural beauties of the Commonwealth of Virginia are criteria for the recipient.

Mrs. Montgomery is a member and former President of The Martinsville Garden Club in Martinsville.  An avid advocate for environmental issues, she was President of The Garden Club of Virginia 1982-1984, was the moving force in the restoration of Prestwould Plantation, Clarksville, Virginia, and  persuaded VDOT to erect “Welcome to Virginia” entrances around the Commonwealth.