Pam Barefoot doesn’t do anything halfway.
As the founder of Blue Crab Bay Co., she built a multimillion-dollar gourmet food company from the ground up – starting with no culinary experience, limited resources and a bold idea born in a rural Virginia kitchen. Her business journey landed her features on Good Morning America and SELF magazine and brought home numerous national awards. But even more impressive than the brand she built is the way she used her success to lift others: creating opportunities, supporting women in need and building a culture of generosity. That same spirit still shines in retirement, where Pam continues to give back and stay engaged as a vibrant and active resident of The Village at Brookwood in Burlington.
A few years after selling her company in 2016, Pam and her husband, Jim Green, realized they were ready to leave behind the stress of home maintenance and embrace a simpler, more carefree lifestyle in which they could have peace of mind. For years, they had lived on an 8-acre waterfront property in Virginia – their dream home – but they began to feel that the upkeep no longer matched the retirement lifestyle they desired. They wanted the reassurance that comes with knowing they’d be supported no matter what challenges the future might hold. That’s what led them to choose a continuing care retirement – or “life plan” – community, specifically The Village at Brookwood. After a brief tour of the community in 2022, they quickly decided this was where they wanted to be and moved into their home a few short months later.
Since moving in, Pam has been busy in all the best ways. She leads “The Crew,” a group of 35 resident volunteers who help clean out apartments and garden homes after a neighbor moves from independent living or passes away. Items that families don’t keep are sold through community estate sales or online, with all proceeds benefiting the Residents Assistance Fund. The fund helps ensure that any resident who outlives their assets – through no fault of their own – is still able to receive the care and support they need.
“It’s my way of giving back to the community, and it’s given me the opportunity to connect with so many neighbors. We’ve developed real close bonds and friendships,” Pam says.
This dedication to helping others started long before retirement.
Pam takes pride in having built a company that created opportunities for women in rural Virginia, including Dawn, a single mother who joined Blue Crab Bay Co. at age 17 and dedicated many years to the business. Dawn worked her way up to becoming chief financial officer.
“Helping women succeed and providing opportunities – that’s what I’m most proud of,” Pam says. “Dawn helped manage every dollar, and thanks to her, my business thrived. She played a big role in making it possible for me to retire comfortably today.”
Now, Pam pours her creativity into jewelry-making for resident art shows and records step-by-step tutorial videos to help neighbors navigate the online resident portal. Whether it’s making art, solving tech challenges or rallying volunteers, Pam continues to prove that retirement is anything but slowing down.
Her entrepreneurial chapter may have closed, but Pam’s greatest purpose continues — building community and helping others in every way she can.