‘ALWAYS FISHHEADS': Hospice volunteers experience living history with Mary Brunson

The Brunson family name is one that is synonymous with Destin history, but even the most knowledgeable historians probably don’t know Mary Brunson.

Having been in Destin since the late 1930s, Mary was part of the original fishing community that grew up to become the city of Destin. After leaving Alabama to follow her brothers to a lucky little fishing village, Mary met her late husband, Zachary, through his sister, Mabel, and got married in 1942 when she was 18 years old.

“We didn’t even have a bridge here then, and you had to go to Pensacola to go to the grocery store,” Mary said. “But it was wonderful in those days.”

With eight children to take care of, Mary stayed busy. And after Zachary stopped fishing commercially in 1971 and opened a bait shop on their back porch on Calhoun Avenue, they spent many hours cutting bait. But all of that didn’t keep the couple from being heavily involved in the development of Destin.

“Anything in Destin, Zack was involved,” Mary said. “And if he was involved, I was involved.”

The Brunsons spent their time helping out everywhere from the community center to the volunteer fire department. More than six decades ago, Mary was probably whipping up fixings to go with the fish Zachary was bringing in for the first annual community center fish fry, held to support the first annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.

“What Zack did was for the community, and he didn’t want recognition,” said Mary, who is as modest about her good works as her husband was.

From seeing the bridge to Destin being built to being here for Destin’s incorporation in 1984, Mary has seen a lot of changes throughout the years. But she said the biggest change has been in the people.

“These days there are more newcomers than old timers,” Mary said. “I’m about the only one left.”

Mary still lives in the house she and Zachary built in 1950, but things have gotten a lot quieter as she’s seen old friends and loved ones pass away. However, she still likes to talk about the old days, and Emerald Coast Hospice volunteer Louis Alioto has been getting a little history lesson during each of his visits with Mary.

“It’s great conversation, although she does most of the talking,” Alioto said. “I’ve learned a lot.”

Alioto and Lisa Secondine, volunteer coordinator, are so appreciative of their time with Mary that they want to do something nice for the woman who was working behind the scenes for much of the early development of Destin.
Mary told the Log that she used to have the most beautiful yard in Destin, with rose bushes around her back porch. So Emerald Coast Hospice is putting out the word for anyone with a green thumb to help.

“I have a black thumb, and she deserves better,” Secondine said. “She has really blessed me.”

Volunteer gardeners can find Mary in the same place she’s been for the last 59 years and will be for the rest of her life. The one-time Miss Destin said that despite the changes she’s never even considered leaving the little town she watched and helped to grow.

“We was always fishheads,” Mary said. “I liked the atmosphere and still like the atmosphere here.”

GOT A GREEN THUMB?
Emerald Coast Hospice is searching for volunteers to help tend Mary Brunson’s garden. Call Lisa at 850-862-1069 to sign up.