Mary Williams and her husband, Jim, were longtime members of Northside Drive. Both served in important leadership capacities and Mary was chairwoman of the Memorial Gifts Committee for twenty-two years. When her daughters left for college, Jim gave Mary the gift of an art class at The High Museum. So began the art career that continued for the rest of her life. She went on to study under regional and nationally known artists and became a highly accomplished artist in her own right with exhibits at the Cherokee Town Club and often at the Atlanta Artists Center. Mary was a graduate of Agnes Scott College and late in life she designed the cover for her college reunion, the last she lived to attend. She was also a long time member of the Atlanta Artist Center and a member of the Georgia Watercolor Society.

       Mary's unique, expressive paintings were easily recognized. Her work included familiar flowers like poppies, Queen Anne's Lace, zinnias, hydrangeas, pansies, and cleome, but she painted them like no other. A quote by Georgia O'Keefe aptly describes Mary's approach:

       "If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it, no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself: "I'll paint what I see-what the flower is to me, but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it."

       That is how Mary's paintings are, bigger than life, bold, filled with dazzling colors and backgrounds of vibrant darkness. It is impossible to ignore their beauty.

       Mary died one year ago on May 20. Today we honor her memory by sharing her painting.