1929
Mary
2014
Mary Sweeney Ellett
December 18, 1929 — November 17, 2014
Mary Sweeney Ellett died Nov. 17, 2014 in Lynchburg, VA. Born on Dec. 18, 1929 in Greensboro, NC she grew up in Lynchburg and graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now Randolph College). In 1951, she married Robert D. Ellett and they had three children. After college, she was a high school teacher, occupational therapist and college magazine editor. She returned to school and obtained M.A. (1974) and Ph.D (1987) degrees in Art History from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Dr. Ellett later taught Art History at Randoph-Macon Woman’s College where she also served as Director of the Adult Degree Program and Community Education. After retirement, she continued to teach seminars at other area colleges for many years. At the time of her death, she was a professorial lecturer for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA (VMFA).
The recipient of numerous grants and awards, Dr. Ellett was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, awarded multiple Mellon Grants in Humanities and in 1989, was appointed by the Governor of Virginia and confirmed by the General Assembly as a Commissioner on the Virginia Commission for the Arts, serving until 1994. In 2010, she was selected to be the inaugural speaker in the grand opening of the VMFA’s new lecture hall. Most recently, Dr. Ellett was awarded a 2013 Voice of the Arts & Humanities Award for Art Education by the James River Council for the Arts and Humanities. She authored and edited many essays, articles and publications in art history, including a guide for new teachers of Art History survey for Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, the most widely used college textbook in the field.
Well known for her strong intellect, boundless enthusiasm, generous nature and true kindness of spirit, she took care of family, friends, colleagues and countless pets. She chaired or served on many community boards including the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, Public Library, United Way, Lynchburg Historical Society and Court Street United Methodist Church and was a docent at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College.
Mary Ellett is survived by her husband of 63 years, Bob Ellett of Lynchburg, her brother the Hon. W.W. (Bill) Sweeney and his wife Nada, her sister Patricia (Pat) Sweeney Shahrokhi and her husband Farshid, three children: Martha L. Ellett of Alexandria, VA, Jane R. Gordon and her husband Baxter and James T. (Jimmy) Ellett and his wife Tracy as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, at 11am at Court Street United Methodist Church in Lynchburg. A separate service will also be held at Westminster-Canterbury of Lynchburg on Friday afternoon at 3:30pm. Visitation will be from 7-9pm Thursday Nov. 20 at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Arts Department of the Academy of Fine Arts, www.academyfinearts.com, Lynchburg, VA, or to Randolph College’s Maier Museum, 1 Quinlan Street, Lynchburg, VA 24503.
Condolences may be sent online at www.obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com. Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.
Dr. Ellett later taught Art History at Randoph-Macon Woman’s College where she also served as Director of the Adult Degree Program and Community Education. After retirement, she continued to teach seminars at other area colleges for many years. At the time of her death, she was a professorial lecturer for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA (VMFA).
The recipient of numerous grants and awards, Dr. Ellett was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, awarded multiple Mellon Grants in Humanities and in 1989, was appointed by the Governor of Virginia and confirmed by the General Assembly as a Commissioner on the Virginia Commission for the Arts, serving until 1994. In 2010, she was selected to be the inaugural speaker in the grand opening of the VMFA’s new lecture hall. Most recently, Dr. Ellett was awarded a 2013 Voice of the Arts & Humanities Award for Art Education by the James River Council for the Arts and Humanities. She authored and edited many essays, articles and publications in art history, including a guide for new teachers of Art History survey for Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, the most widely used college textbook in the field.
Well known for her strong intellect, boundless enthusiasm, generous nature and true kindness of spirit, she took care of family, friends, colleagues and countless pets. She chaired or served on many community boards including the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, Public Library, United Way, Lynchburg Historical Society and Court Street United Methodist Church and was a docent at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College.
Mary Ellett is survived by her husband of 63 years, Bob Ellett of Lynchburg, her brother the Hon. W.W. (Bill) Sweeney and his wife Nada, her sister Patricia (Pat) Sweeney Shahrokhi and her husband Farshid, three children: Martha L. Ellett of Alexandria, VA, Jane R. Gordon and her husband Baxter and James T. (Jimmy) Ellett and his wife Tracy as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, at 11am at Court Street United Methodist Church in Lynchburg. A separate service will also be held at Westminster-Canterbury of Lynchburg on Friday afternoon at 3:30pm. Visitation will be from 7-9pm Thursday Nov. 20 at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Arts Department of the Academy of Fine Arts, www.academyfinearts.com, Lynchburg, VA, or to Randolph College’s Maier Museum, 1 Quinlan Street, Lynchburg, VA 24503.
Condolences may be sent online at www.obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com. Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.
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