At 90, Dolores W. Whitaker still ushers in the holiday season one wreath at a time.

With help from next-door neighbor Chris Miller, Whitaker spent a recent December afternoon hanging wreaths on trees along her block of 1300 Hampton Street, continuing a tradition she began three decades ago. For the past 30 years, Whitaker has decorated every tree on her block, turning the stretch into a quiet symbol of holiday cheer. 

 “I’ve always loved this time of year because I like pretty things,” she said. 

The tradition began in 1995, when Whitaker decided to channel her love of beauty into decorating the 11 trees lining her block. What started as a personal project gradually grew into a neighborhood-wide effort. Residents on nearby blocks began hanging wreaths of their own, inspired by Whitaker’s annual display. 

Now, when she drives through the surrounding neighborhood, Whitaker sees the number of wreaths has grown to about 25. 

“When I see it, it makes me feel real good because I know I’ve done something positive for someone to follow,” she said. 

Whitaker has always paid for the wreaths herself. In the early years, she often handled the decorating alone, sometimes with help from one of her three daughters, Gina. As the years passed, Miller stepped in to help, climbing the ladder to hang the wreaths while Whitaker hands them up from below. 

The pair put up the wreaths starting in November, shortly after Thanksgiving, carrying on a tradition rooted in generosity, community and a love of making things beautiful. 

A bow adorns a tree in Dolores W. Whitaker's neighborhood. (photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)