MONTREAT, NC — The Mountain Retreat Association Inc. (MRA) recently honored the late Katherine (Kat) McKay Belk by officially renaming the Assembly Inn dining facility the “Katherine McKay Belk Dining Room” during a banquet in her honor on March 15, 2026. Guests included Kat’s daughter, Katie from the 5th generation, as well as great granddaughter, Addy, from the 7th generation. Many other friends, community leaders, MRA board members, and staff also shared the celebration.
Throughout her life, Kat’s philanthropic gifts, leadership, and support made a significant impact on the mission of Montreat Conference Center, a ministry of the MRA. In 2014, she made a transformational gift to the conference center’s Assembly Inn renovation and served as honorary chair of a campaign to renovate the space. That gift, coupled with her leadership, was a catalyst for generosity and investment that resulted in the renewal of a cherished and vital facility in Montreat.
“Kat did not simply provide funding; Kat’s gift provided momentum,” says Pete Perry, president of the MRA during the time of that campaign.
The space, formerly known as the Galax Dining Room, serves over 80,000 meals annually to those visiting Montreat for a conference, retreat, or gathering. “It is a place where faith is deepened and friendships are formed,” says Richard DuBose, president of the MRA. “It is the heart of Assembly Inn and a space of nourishment in every sense of the word, and by naming this central gathering place in honor of Kat, we acknowledge not only her generosity, but her vision.”
The McKay Belk family’s commitment to Montreat continued in recent years through substantial gifts from the Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation and the David Belk Cannon Foundation.
“This multi-generational commitment to Montreat has shaped some of our most important facilities,” says Marti Hazelrigg, MRA’s vice president for development. “Kat’s commitment to philanthropy is an example of how faithful partnership with Montreat can help transform our work to reach more lives and extend hospitality to future generations.”
As guests enter the newly renamed Katherine McKay Belk Dining Room in the years ahead, they may not know the full story of the campaign that renewed Assembly Inn. But they will experience its comfort, welcome, and community. And in that experience, Kat’s legacy will continue, woven into the daily life and enduring mission of Montreat.
The Mountain Retreat Association dba Montreat Conference Center was founded in 1897. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church since 1907, conferencing soon opened the door for the development of the cottages and residences in Montreat today. In addition to the year-round schedule of programs and activities, many community residents know Montreat for its walking paths, trails, and parks, with more than half of the MRA’s original land preserved for green space and conservation. Learn more at www.montreat.org.