Lemuria already misses Mississippi’s renowned and beloved artist and author Miriam Weems whose untimely and tragically sudden death shook us all tremendously on Saturday, August 20. Our sympathies go to her sons, Sam and Baxter, to her husband Tommy, and to her brother Dick.
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The collection of Miriam’s paintings, titled Mostly Mississippi, which she compiled and published in 2007, has been a best seller here at Lemuria since its publication. The gorgeous bright pink book is filled with numerous paintings for which she had been commissioned. From its opening with a view looking up Capitol Street during the Mal’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade to the last painting of New York’s Wall Street, the beautiful collection showcases her unique art. We at Lemuria continue to reorder it.
The second book, for which she was known, is a cookbook published by the Mississippi Animal Rescue League titled Best in Show: Our Best Recipes for Man’s Best Friends, for which Miriam painted the front which shows dogs and cats as chefs and as diners in a brightly lit happy restaurant which serves only our animal friends. Miriam’s recipes for Curried Chicken Salad, Hearty Vegetable Soup, and Fudge Pudding will certainly be favorites of all. A fervent animal lover and activist, Miriam was through and through. Her home was filled for years with dogs that she had adopted. She delighted to hear of her friends giving dogs and cats a home.
Though we Lemurians have loved showing customers her two beautiful books, what we will miss the most is when Miriam came into Lemuria to sign them! Her effervescent smile and contagious personality brought the store alive within moments of when she walked in. Pretty soon, we were all smiling and laughing with her!
Maggie and I left Lemuria last Tuesday morning and went to Miriam’s celebration of life service/funeral at my church, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral. To say there was only standing room is an understatement, for the nave and chapel were filled to capacity; friends were standing five to ten deep at the back—what a testament to her capacity to make and keep friends from far and wide. She was truly loved by many. The theme of the homily and the entire service, including the music was “light”, as in “this little light of mine”. Everyone there would agree that Miriam was a bright happy light who spread joy wherever she went, not only in person but in every single painting she created. Light and color and happiness emanated from her work, just as they did from within her.
Miriam’s prominent portrait artist son Baxter Knowlton worked at Lemuria a decade or so ago. It is not hard to determine from whence his great talent and sensitivity come. Maggie often talks of the fun that she and Baxter had at the front desk many years ago. In the dedication of Mostly Mississippi, Miriam wrote: “To the men in my life–My husband Tommy, who makes me happy, my sons Sam and Baxter, of whom I am very proud, and my brother Dick, who is always there for me….and to my parents, to whom I am forever grateful.”
Miriam was my neighbor, my friend, and a fellow church communicant for almost thirty years. We also shared the mutual joy of having wonderful artist sons of whom we talked about with much pride incessantly. I will miss her greatly. Miriam was a gift to all who knew her. -Nan
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