Amelia James

1927 - 2018

Amelia Manning James of Stone Mountain, GA, an artist acclaimed for her portraits and landscapes, died on September 24, 2018. Amelia was born in Atlanta on July 23, 1927, to Frank and Marjorie Manning. She was a descendant of Hardy Ivy, said to be the first person of European descent to permanently settle in Atlanta. Amelia attended Decatur schools, the University of Georgia and graduated from Georgia State with a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree. In 1946, she married then First Lt. Curtis A. James at Camp Pendleton, CA. Amelia established herself as an artist and held painting classes in her home while living in 12 different places and raising three children born in Hawaii, North Carolina and Virginia. After Curtis retired in 1970, they returned to Decatur where she devoted herself to painting and to teaching.

For many years, Amelia taught painting at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, inspiring her students with her unique perspectives, her love of life and art and her commitment to mentoring budding artists, many of whom would later cite her as a critical influence in their own development.

Amelia always saw a world in bloom and she set about to paint it. Her love of flowers and strong interest in people is evident in her paintings, imbuing them with a quality that is uniquely hers. Devoting most of her time to portraiture, Amelia also enjoyed painting landscapes and flower compositions and was an avid gardener. Amelia's works are included in corporate, private and institutional collections across the United States and abroad. In Georgia, her paintings hang in Emory University and Hospital, Agnes Scott College, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Mercer University, Fidelity Bank, the Georgia Supreme Court and Piedmont Hospital. She maintained studios in Decatur, GA and Highlands, NC, served on the board of the Atlanta Arts Festival and was a member of the Lullwater Garden Club and the Laurel Garden Club in Highlands, NC.

Amelia is survived by her brother, Frank Wyatt Manning, her children Jorie Andrews of Charlotte, NC, and Dolf James of Yulee, FL, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Curtis and daughter Cynthia Clark died earlier this year.

The family plans a private service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Parkinson's Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, NY, NY 10018. A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.

James, Manning, Amelia