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BORN
1926
DIED
2011
Yolanda Mayhall Obituary
She was born July 18, 1926, in New York City, and came to this area 37 years ago. Yolanda was a draftsman and cartographer, working for the Army Map Service in Washington, D.C., during World War II; for the federal government in Germany after the war and then became a renowned artist, specializing in Japanese brush painting or "sumi-e," which she learned while living in Japan with her husband, Theodore Bartlett Mayhall. Yolanda authored three books and a video on the art of Japanese brush painting, taught many students at the college level and in adult education classes, and participated in many art exhibits in galleries and museums in Washington, D.C., and Florida. She loved her family; her many dear, treasured friends; all animals, especially birds, dogs, cats, horses and even pandas; theater, literature, music and the beauty of forests, mountains and sea-
shores. An expert on the fine arts and artists, Yolanda was active in many community organizations promoting the arts. A formidable pingpong player, "Yo" had a wicked backhand serve that could not be returned. Her wisdom, wit and warmth will be greatly missed by all of us.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Mayhall Hunter of River Falls, WI, and Wendy Jeanne Mayhall of Dunnellon, FL; two grandsons, Jan Dylan Hunter of Santa Rosa, CA, and Paul Hunter of Minneapolis, MN; a nephew, Peter Goldman of Boulder, Colorado; and a niece, Diane Goldman-Singer of San Francisco, CA.
A celebration of Yolanda's life will be held at her home on Saturday, June 18th, from 6 to 9 p.m., as family and friends are invited to share their wonderful memories of her. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to HPH Hospice House, 2341 W. Norvell Bryant Hwy., Lecanto, FL 34461 or the Humane Society of Citrus County, 751 S. Smith Avenue, Inverness, FL 34452. Arrangements under the direction of Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory of Inverness.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Yolanda Mayhall
Sponsored by Barbara Mayhall Hunter.
Jan Hunter
June 7, 2025
I'm doing genealogy today and looked into this to read these messages again. My house is full of Yo's Sumi-e paintings and I think of her often. She was the best! We were house-sitting in Florida recently so of course I thought of her while walking this small dog, something we would do together daily as I was growing up and she always had her little doggies.
Dee Jochen
June 4, 2023
Can it be so many years since Yolanda left us? She still lives in our thoughts and hearts as vividly as ever, teacher and dear friend.
With much love,, Deeand Mark Jochen
Peter Goldman
May 30, 2020
I always treasured those times we got to visit with Yolanda, either when she would visit us in Valley Stream (when she was going on a trip out of Kennedy Airport or working with a publisher in N.Y) or when we travelled to visit her in D.C or Florida. Knowing her was one of the highlights of my life
Dee & Mark Jochen
May 30, 2020
Can it be nine years since Yolanda left this life? We miss her still, and always will. We cherish all the memories of her friendship, as well as shared painting times. She still lives in our hearts.
Barbara, do you still go to her house for winters? Would love to hear from you.
[email protected]
Marcia
February 5, 2020
Where can I see/buy her art? is it sold on the open market? its beautiful!
Barbara Mayhall-Hunter
January 11, 2017
Thanks so much for your kind, comforting, thoughts and memories, Mr. & Mrs. Jochen. I think of her almost every day and it's so comforting to know that you think of her often, too. Gone but never forgotten, she made such a difference in so many people's lives, especially ours! As soon as I complete her website with her art, you will be the first to know.
Dee Jochen
January 10, 2017
Always in our hearts, never forgotten.
Love to Barbara, to Wendy, to Jan.
Mark & Dee
Helen Williams Zimbro
January 9, 2017
I was hoping to start back with my Sumi-e painting that I had taken a year and a half of and started at age ten with Yolanda Mayhall. I was looking for supplies when I just happened on her obituary. This saddened me so much! I am 65 yrs old now. I used to play with her daughter, Wendy, we played Bonanza, she was always, little Joe, I was always Adam. We had so much fun together. I loved Yolanda so much and appreciate what time I spent with her. I will miss her. If you should see this Wendy, I would love to have you and Barbara on my Facebook. We lived five or so houses from you. Your Mom taught Sumi-e, my Mom taught piano. One summer I babysat for the 24 Japanese Rice birds. I named my Zebra finches after Petey and Patty. My grandson gave them to me January 1, 2017, they have brought back many fond memories. I will truly miss Yolanda, I wish we could have visited after all these years.
Barbara Mayhall Hunter
November 28, 2015
Thank yo so much Dee and Mark Jochen for remembering our Yolanda with your words and poetry.Your kind words are so comforting to us. I think we are all reminded her of her now as the "Yo Birds" sing in the bamboo grove behind her house, having just arrived for the winter here in Florida I am still gathering and digitizing her artwork and hope to have her website up and running in a month or two. I'll let you know when it's completed.
Dee & Mark Jochen
October 7, 2015
Yolanda very much in my thoughts as I packed brush, paper & ink for a lengthy trip. Memories of her enthusiastic encouragement as I struggled to learn the basic beautiful strokes of sumie.
Here's a poem in her memory:
Let it go my love my truest
Let it sail on silver wings
Life's a twinkling, that's for certain
But it's such a fine thing
There's a gathering of spirits
There's a festival of friends
And we'll take up where we left off
when we all meet again.
Always in our hearts.
Virginia Simson
October 6, 2015
It took a fine fine person to write those books. They are really masterpieces. Very sad to see she has passed as I so wanted to thank her for what she has brought me.
Jim Belfiore
September 14, 2014
I'm new to learning sumi-e, from Yolanda's inspirational books and DVD. I was saddened to read that Yolonda passed back in 2011. I travel to Japan for business a few times each year. In the future, I hope to return with my sumi-e kit, take an afternoon to paint, and share Yolanda's story with my friends in Japan.
Dee & Mark Jochen
January 4, 2014
No longer with us in body, never absent in her bright, creative spirit.
In loving memory.
January 3, 2014
I am totally shocked. I have two of her books and spoke to her on the phone years ago. I am more than determined to perfect this art form.
Pat - Dover, NJ
Jane Gravois
September 6, 2013
Sorry to hear Yolanda has passed on! I was looking her up online to share with a class. My neighbor and I took the Sumi-e class with Yolanda at her home in the 1980's-It was so much fun and such a great art to learn. I continue to enjoy what she taught us!
Blessings to your family!
Barbara Mayhall Hunter
February 4, 2013
Thank you, Max. How amazing that she "reached" you in Portland, Oregon! I think she taught a workshop there once, long ago. I miss her everyday. I'm here in her Florida house, cataloging all of her art. Productivity was her forte! She keeps reminding me to "Be well, keep in touch, and DO GOOD WORK!
Max ROBERTS
February 3, 2013
So sad. Her contributions were great.
Kay Winton
July 3, 2012
Barbara: I think the reason that so many painters who own your mother's books and CD's and have learned so much from her, have not joined the guestbook is that they do not realize that the world has lost her. Again, her books and CD's are my prized possessions, Kay Brown Winton
Barbara (Mayhall) Hunter
July 1, 2012
Thanks so much for your kind message, Donna. Yes, she taught us how to lead a joyful life. Her favorite saying--"Every day is a good day!"Lately, I've been visited by many "Yo Birds" chirping away and have been noticing many of the flowers and insects that she loved so--her spirit is still with us. Her two cats are here sitting with me right now, purring away. Thanks again for remembering our mom, grandma, and wonderful friend.
Donna Heffner
July 1, 2012
We think of Yolanda every time we look at the paintings she left with us - even the decorated envelopes from Christmas greetings. Her energy and talent were inspirational, and are still missed by all who knew her. Yolanda epitomized "joy de vive" - loved every day and passed on that joy to others. What a legacy!
Mark/Dee Jochen
June 30, 2012
It has been more than a year since Yolanda left us, and yet her presence is always with us. We felt it very much on our last trip to Fla. especially. And as the anniversary of her departure from this life came, we felt renewed grief, for her absence, but more for her dear family, knowing how much they love and miss her.
Ann Kozeliski
July 19, 2011
Yolanda was an artist, a teacher and an inspiration. I had the pleasure of taking her sumi-e Workshops, her love of the art form came through her presentation and was the bow on top of the gift that she shared with everyone that took her classes. I teach Sumi-e now and I recommend her first Sumi-e book to my all my students. May the family have happy thoughts at sunset.
Diana
July 19, 2011
Yolanda was and remains such a special inspiration to fellow sumi-e artists...prayers for the family, she will be dearly missed...
Carol Sanfilippo
July 19, 2011
Yolanda taught many of us in Tallahassee, starting us on our lifelong love of Sumi-e. Her creativity, talent, and warmth inspired us to not only practice sumi-e but to explore and develop our own dream journeys. Her Yo bird will always sweep and soar in our memories.
Teresa
July 19, 2011
I took a workshop from Yolanda years ago and thoroughly enjoyed meeting her. Her love of Sumi-e was shared with her students. RIP
susan hunter
July 10, 2011
only knowing barbara, jan and paul, and through their respect, love and admiration, did i ever know how good, talented, fun, kind and loving yo was to them. she has left them a huge legacy with which to go forward - they were completely and openly given her joy of life and ability to show and receive love.
Gene LaFond
June 26, 2011
Wish I'd have met her. Her daughter Barbara is a lovely person - a tribute to s loving Mother.
Mark & Dee Jochen
June 21, 2011
The memorial was warm, alive with the spirit of Yolanda's life.
Special blessings on those of you who carry that spirit in your life from this time forward.
Barbara Hunter
June 20, 2011
The Celebration of Life for Yolanda Mayhall on 6/18 at her home was rich with stories, inspirational, reverent and interesting, and was exactly as she would have wanted it to be. We shall never ever forget your kind thoughts and words of comfort, cards, phone calls, tears, laughter and hugs. It will take a long time for us to heal but with the ongoing discoveries (in her home) of photographs, documents, sketches and paintings, poetry, essays, cards to celebrate holidays and birthdays, lists of her personal goals and ideas, notes from her friends, etc., we continue to marvel at our mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend’s remarkable eight decades of a well-lived life. Yolanda’s decision to live well, live long, live happily and face death with courage, dignity, acceptance and peace is an inspiration to us all. Thank you for your appreciation, admiration and love for her and her amazing talents.
We have renewed her website, yolandamayhall.com, for two years but will soon be adding a memorial message and making some changes. You can contact me (her daughter) at [email protected], or call 715-425-0148.
Evelyn Mark
June 18, 2011
Yolanda will be missed by so many. Her numerous accomplishments are understandable after meeting this very unique lady. She relished life and did things in a unique way...from living abroad, loving animals and nature, to camping through the mountains in Europe with her teenage daughter, to her appreciation of, and creating beautiful art, to her formidable pingpong talent and so much more. These special talents are just a hint of the jewel that was Yo's spirit. One only had to meet her to know they were in the presence a beautiful and very special person. My heart goes out to her family and my very good friend Wendy. She will live on through all of you. I am so sorry for your great loss.
Bill & Sonia Chastain
June 18, 2011
Yolanda was such a special person, gracious, warm, friendly and so artistic! We met at one of her Sumie lectures and because we lived nearby, would see each other from time to time. We kept all of the beautiful Christmas cards that she and Ted created - 14, plus a kind sympathy card! We were sorry to learn of her passing - our condolences to all her family and friends.
Yvonne Fielder
June 18, 2011
Yolanda will live on in me (actually I'm a friend who never met her, but talked on the phone only) in her book, The Sumi-e Book and in her gorgeous, A Sumi-e Dream Journey. Her inspiration lead me to expect more of myself as she did of herself. What a wonderful woman!
Kay Winton
June 16, 2011
I only knew Yolanda through her videos and books, but I did have a chance to do emails and to send her letters these last few years. But even though my connection with her was not face to face, I feel as I have lost a very good friend. Her books were my first lessons in Japanese Sumi-e even though I had lived in Japan years ago. I will miss her knowing that she is no longer with us, but I will enjoy her books and video more often now that I know the art world has lost a gem. Thank you Yolanda for sharing your talents and the beautiful things you created with us. Kay Brown Winton, Hayward, WI
Susan Fontaine
June 16, 2011
Though I only knew Yolanda briefly, I immediately adored her. Her Sumi-e and love of life was and is such an inspiration! Her spirit will surely live on and touch others through her amazing art and books.
sherryl branton
June 16, 2011
To a very dear friend I will greatly miss you and all the little pep talks we had I thank god for letting me meet such a kind person may you rest in peace
Marcia Hollander
June 14, 2011
George Miller and I met Yolanda most serendipitously! In 2005 I could not resist the urge to buy The Sumi-e Book I saw in Barnes&Noble even though I never had picked up a paint brush before doing so. I showed the book to George who did a double take - he had just been corresponding with Yo concerning his purchase of her late husband's shakuhachi! He told her I had just bought the book, she immediately sent me her DVD! We traveled up to meet her (George's mother also lived near Dunellon) and so it began - she gave me several lessons, we enjoyed many wonderful conversations which we both cherished. Her art expressed her beauty and graciousness - a gift to us all. She will be missed.
June 14, 2011
Yolanda and Ted were two of the finest people I met during my years as registrar of the Appleton Museum of Art. I own what Yo called my "collection" of Mayhall art works. They will always remind of the two wonderful and talented people that I was fortunate to have in my life.
Brenda McNeal
Pam (Bolinda) Mann
June 13, 2011
"Yo" was a gem of a lady. I cannot express in words what her friendship and that of Ted's meant to me many years ago. After reestablishing contact after so many years she was as warm and friendly as when we first met. My condolences to her family and other friends.
Betty Tone
June 13, 2011
Yo was a fun friend,and a great talent. I treasure her Sumi-e Dream book and the lovely cards she and Ted sent at Christmas. She left much beauty in our world to still be admired.
Juan
June 13, 2011
My dear friend has left and gone to heaven, but I have faith that some day we will meet again to continue our many art dialogues. She was a most wonderful and generous person, and I will miss her very much.
Sharon
June 12, 2011
Yolanda was an amazing and will live on as an artist and such an inspiration to me. She was one of the reasons I became engaged with sumi-e painting and Im such a huge fan of her work and books. she continued to inspire throughout her life and I hope to be half as creative as she was in her later years. --Sharon, Chicago, IL
Donna and Sam Heffner
June 12, 2011
Yolanda was an energetic, warm, and delightful person, as well as a very talented Sumi-e artist. She could paint a wonderful scene so quickly and beautifully that was astounding! Her "Yo birds" grace our wall, and we will never forget her zest for life and art. She will be greatly missed by all Sumi-e artists. We are sure she is decorating the gates of heaven right now.
Pattie Moore-Howell
June 12, 2011
Although I never met Yolanda in person, we communicated several times via e-mail. After purchasing one of her paintings on EBay, I tracked her down to enquire about the title. I love her art and have become a true fan. Yolanda was a warm, kind and talented person and will be missed.
Aida Galeb
June 12, 2011
Visits to Yolanda's lovely home was great experience. Yolanda was such a gracious host, beautiful person, great artist. I wake up every morning looking at Yolanda's birds. Her art is delicate and warm like the artist herself. Yolanda will be missed by all of us who were fortunate to know her.
Regina-Champagne Babin
June 11, 2011
Mrs. Yolanda Mayhall corresponded with me giving me permission to use an excerpt from one of her books. I was so excited that she responded so quickly to me-- a stranger. I could feel her warmth and kindness. Then, I wished that I could cross the United States to visit her. My presentations and teachings are successful because of her. I am a simple school teacher from Houma, Louisiana. I am so thankful to God for His gift of her character, her talent, and her warmth. Should you ever make a museum in her honor, I wish to be there to support the mission. I am so sad to learn of this news. Regina-Champagne Babin NBCT, M.Ed., Houma, LA
Lucille Davis
June 6, 2011
Several years ago I attended Mrs. Mayhall's sumie class, in Homosassa. At another time I spent several hours in Ted's calligrapohy class at the Citrus Springs library. Both of these gave me an appreciation of beautiful writing and of Japanese art. For a number of years I received beautifully hand-written Christmas cards, lovingly penned and drawn in their unique style. The are still displayed in my living room.
Yolanda will be sorely missed. She was a treasure, and a very patient teacher.
June 5, 2011
I am thinking of you all during this time of sadness. Yolanda was a wonderful, talented and caring woman. I know that she will be greatly be missed.
Love,
Beverly Leavitt
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