Rockwall, TX (June 25, 2025) – On a warm Texas evening, beneath a canopy of old pecan trees and the golden glow of string lights, a country-fair-themed fundraiser springs to life. The scent of sizzling Bootsburgers fills the air, mingling with the sound of country music. A backdrop of blue ribbons and botanical charm sets the stage for an evening rooted in love and legacy.
This is the seventh annual For the Love of Lacie (FTLOL) Backyard Benefit, artfully hosted by Mary Grace Frasier. Each spring, she transforms her North Rockwall home into an oasis of song, remembrance, and purpose. For the fifth consecutive year, award-winning singer-songwriter Wade Bowen—joined by Austin musician Nick Gardner—delivers an intimate backyard performance for nearly 200 guests.
Friends and family return year after year for this cherished gathering at the home of Mary Grace and her late husband, Mike Frasier. The mission: to fund college scholarships for local students. But the event is more than a fundraiser—it’s a tribute to their daughter, Lacie Jo, a remarkable young woman whose spirit continues to inspire.
Lacie Jo, a sixth-generation Rockwall resident, graduated from Rockwall High School and later earned a Bachelor of Science from Texas Woman’s University, double majoring in biology and chemistry with a minor in women’s studies. She was a wife, a mother-to-be, and a dreamer known for her courage, intellect, and compassion.
Lacie Jo married her high school sweetheart after college. While expecting their first child, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, a heartbreaking journey that led to the loss of their daughter, Corbin Rae, and ultimately, to Lacie Jo’s passing on June 14, 2017.
In 2019, her family established the Lacie Jo Frasier Bryan Memorial Scholarship in her honor. The scholarship supports young women from Rockwall High School who share Lacie’s passion for education and her commitment to excellence, particularly in science, education, and leadership.
This year’s recipients are Rockwall High graduates Leah Rocha (University of Texas at Tyler, nursing), Sophie Escamilla (Texas Tech, nursing), and Hannah Owen (UT Austin, art education). To date, FTLOL has awarded 33 scholarships totaling $66,000. In 2020, the For the Love of Lacie 501(c)(3) nonprofit was formed.
Mary Grace welcomed guests with her signature warmth and gratitude. “I’m so blessed to have such incredible family and friends. I can’t say thank you enough for all your hard work in making this happen,” she shared. “Our mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of young women in Rockwall by helping them pursue their dreams of becoming educated, independent women.”
She then introduced Wade Bowen. “I never know quite how to introduce Wade,” she said. “He has a heart of gold and is just the sweetest person you could ever meet. He puts up with me and my texts—and as busy as he is, he always replies.”
Grinning, she added, “Oh—and did I mention he plays great music?” She listed a string of Wade’s accolades—including Single of the Year, Album of the Year, and Music Video of the Year—before noting, “To me, he’s just Wade, and I’m so thankful he’s here with us tonight.”
Mary Grace shared that Wade’s rendition of Amazing Grace was played at Lacie’s graveside service in 2017. “And tonight, we also remember Mike,” she said. “He’s been gone three years. He built what we’re enjoying here tonight. So we’ll bless the food with Amazing Grace for Lacie, then Wade will sing Everything Has Your Memory for Mike.”
Mary Grace offered heartfelt thanks to the many supporters who make FTLOL possible—especially the table sponsors, without whom the event wouldn’t happen; Bootsburgers, the official burger of FTLOL since 2018; auctioneer Kevin Stanley; the FTLOL board and committee members; and her Soroptimist sisters, who volunteered their time and donated baskets. She also expressed appreciation for the continued support of local Rockwall businesses, and gave a sweet shoutout to Diedra Dixon of Sweets by Diedra for donating “the best-tasting cookies” year after year.
To support the FTLOL Foundation, make checks payable to For the Love of Lacie Inc., or contact FTLOLacie@gmail.com.
—By Dawn Redig, Blue Ribbon News. Photos by Giovanna Psolka.
For the Love of Lacie: Rockwall’s Blue Ribbon-Themed Backyard Benefit with Wade Bowen added by Melanie M on
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