"In memory of Mary Vinson Blackwell's vibrant spirit, the Mary Vinson Blackwell Foundation has been created in Jamaica. The United States represents the Foundation through Island ACTS.

The efforts of the Foundation will be devoted to causes within the Parish of Trelawny."

"Mary Vinson Blackwell, renowned fashion and home furnishings designer, inspired by her travels and experiences, saw art as a way of living, which shaped her design and philosophy aesthetic. After finishing at Parsons School of Design in New York, she worked as an independent stylist and through mutual friend Grace Jones met Chris Blackwell, who founded Island Records and Island Outpost. From Europe to Africa to Asia, she journeyed with Chris at her side, gathering ideas to bring back to her design studio where she reinterpreted them in a way that everyone could appreciate in products ranging from clothing to home furnishings, tabletop, fabrics and bedding.

Vinson imported rich, exotic fabrics, crafts and local treasures she brought back from these travels and translated her ideas from grassroots craftsmanship into rare objects of desire. These treasures are featured in her Royal Hut collection in her Upper East Side location that opened in November 2000. She also had a store in the early 1990's called Island Trading, which had locations in New York and Miami's South Beach. Mary Vinson Blackwell married Chris in 1998 and lived with her husband between homes in Jamaica, the Bahamas and New York City. Her style of living reflected her sincere love of travel and the island life. She was born in Coutland, Virginia and her survivors include her husband, three brothers and one sister"