Amy Katharine Lange

1969 - 2013

Amy K. Lange, 44, of Millington, Tenn., daughter of longtime Evergreen resident Susan Richards, died tragically on Nov. 25, 2013.
Amy was named Shelby County Schools' Teacher of the Year for 2012-13. She was an integral part of the Millington Arts Council and a well-loved art teacher at Millington Central High School in Shelby County, Tenn., where she had taught for nearly a decade. She started her teaching career at Germantown High School in Germantown, Tenn., and recently was an adjunct art education instructor at Memphis College of Art in Memphis. She was also a gifted and accomplished photographer, graphic designer and artist.
Amy generously shared her knowledge and expertise with young students, student teachers and her peers. It was her opinion that most students are not taught to think effectively. Her art project assignments required students to research topics from several perspectives and think them through. Once those skills were mastered, they naturally carried over into every aspect of the students' education and lives. Many of her pupils were accepted at top colleges and universities throughout the country, receiving very generous grants and scholarships.
To promote her students' creativity, Amy founded events such as an annual silent auction and art sale at the Millington Farmers Market. Because of her guidance and active promotion, their art has been featured on billboards in such places as New York City and at Memphis International Airport. Amy was as proud as any parent of her students' accomplishments.
Born on July 25, 1969, Amy attended the Low Heywood Thomas School in Stamford, Conn., and graduated from Stamford High School in 1987. She received her bachelor of fine arts in photography from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and earned a master's degree from the University of Memphis, where she was pursuing her doctorate in instructional design and technology. She recently returned from a 10-day trip to China, where she visited schools and spoke with art students.
She is survived and greatly missed by her loving family, her mother, Susan Richards of Evergreen; father Kenneth Lange of Stamford, Conn.; sister Holly Lange and husband Addison Parker of Denver; half sister Robin Lange; stepmother Elizabeth Lange; and other extended family members.
Memorial gifts in memory of Amy Lange may be sent to: Millington Central High School, 8050 West St., Millington, TN 38053. Please add a memo at the bottom of the check to the Art Honor Society Scholarship. All checks must have a phone number listed in order to be processed.