Gene, a founding member and third president of the Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park, devoted himself for many years to creating a watermen's museum, helping bring the institution into being in 2002. Alongside his interest in local maritime history, he also had a passion for woodland gardens and wildlife sculpture, and he created this naturalized garden as a place for contemplation and remembrance. Families ordered and placed each decorative teak bench and life-sized bronze statue of native birds in natural poses and habitats to honor their loved ones.