Artemesia Winkfield Brummell

Artemesia Winkfield Brummell, 93, of New Jersey, formerly of Louisville, departed this life on Monday, July 5, 2004. She was the only child of George and Cora Winkfield, born March 26, 1911, in Utteringtown (Lexington), KY. "Art," as she was affectionately called by family and close friends, grew up on her parents' farm and attended Fayette County (KY) Elementary School and Dunbar High School. After graduating from Dunbar in 1930, she attended Wilburforce (OH) University, where she received her BS degree in home economics. She often acknowledged with deep gratitude the great sacrifice her parents made to pay for her undergraduate education. Art pursued graduate study at the University of Chicago, University of Iowa and University of Kentucky. She began her teaching career at Douglas High School in Lexington, KY, where she supervised the school lunch program. She later taught home economics at Lincoln Institute, a premier, private boarding school for black students. She supervised the kitchen and dining room and planned meals, working under the late Whitney M. Young Sr., who was the superintendent. She was also a critic teacher for the home economics department at Kentucky State College. On June 30, 1940, Art married William Clyde Brummell Sr., a social worker. They had two sons, Joseph Eugene Brummell and William Clyde Brummell Jr. Their 29-year union lasted until Mr. Brummell's passing in 1969. Mr. Brummell was a supervisor of the Ridgewood (KY) Division of the Louisville and Jefferson County Children's Home. Art joined the faculty there as a home economics teacher and supervisor of the foods and service department. She retired from teaching at Ormsby Village School in Louisville in 1970. As a youngster, Art attended Utteringtown Baptist Church. After her marriage and move to Louisville, she joined her husband's church, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. Art enjoyed cooking and meals at her home were always special. She delivered food for special occasions and on visits to the sick. She was particularly noted for her "out of sight" dinner rolls, jam cake, country ham, oyster stuffing and bourbon balls. Art's culinary skill was the subject of a feature article in The Courier-Journal. While she enjoyed cooking, nothing delighted her more than eating a delicious meal. She was an avid reader and collector of recipes and contributor to cookbooks. She had an extensive cookbook collection. Art was very active in her church, community service and social organizations. She became the first ordained woman deacon at Plymouth Congregational Church and was a member of the Plymouth Guild. She served on the board of the YMCA/YWCA and was a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. She was also a member of Les Dames Club, the Blue Grass Garden Club and the Casualite Club. In May of 1997, she moved to South Orange, NJ, to live with her son, William C. "Bill" Brummell and daughter-in-law, Jeanette. Left to cherish her memory are her two sons, Joseph and William, daughters-in-law, Verlette and Jeanette, and grandchildren, Audrey Fisher, Joseph E. Brummell Jr., LaSonya Pitts, Simone Brummell, Alea Brummell and William C. Brummell III. She was also blessed with six great-grandchildren and with many other relatives and friends. Her funeral will be held at noon Saturday at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, 1630 W. Chestnut St., with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at the church. A.D. Porter & Sons in charge of arrangements.