Miriam Ruth Woolfolk
Sunday 14th of February 1926 - Wednesday 20th of November 2019

Services
Visitation
Memorial Service
Miriam Ruth
(Lamy) Woolfolk, 93, died on November 20, 2019 in Lexington. Born on Valentine's Day in Louisville, KY,
she was the daughter of Edward J. Lamy and Esther Schmidt Lamy. She moved to Lexington in 1951 and was a member
of Second Presbyterian Church for over 60 years, serving as a Sunday School
teacher, deacon, choir member, and Meals on Wheels volunteer.
Miriam was a
lifelong artist and poet. She was an early member of the Lexington Art League,
serving as President in 1975-76, as well as newsletter editor, vice president,
treasurer, program chair, exhibitor and volunteer. She was a member of the
Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington DC for over 25
years and participated in many of their exhibits, including the 2004 and 2008
World Miniatures Exhibits in the International Gallery at the Smithsonian. She illustrated "Kentucky
Hospitality," a bicentennial cookbook for the Federated Women's Clubs; and
created illustrations and notecards for numerous organizations, including the
Henry Clay Estate, Mary Todd Lincoln House and Hunt-Morgan House. She wrote "Covered Bridges of
Kentucky," a booklet of drawings and information about Kentucky's covered
bridges. She participated in many festivals and art exhibits over the years, including
the Bicentennial 1975-76 exhibition of American Painters in Paris, France.
She was a
member of the Kentucky State Poetry Society for over 40 years, serving as
President in 1985, as well as vice president, membership chair and newsletter
editor. She edited the Society's poetry
journal Pegasus for 21 years. She was
also a member of the Lexington Poets and edited their annual booklet
"Reaching" for 10 years. Her
poems appeared in numerous journals, both at home and abroad. Two of her poems,
"Railroad Man's Daughter" and "His Land", were selected for
publication in The Kentucky Anthology: Two Hundred Years of Writing in the
Bluegrass State, compiled by Wade Hall and published in 2005.
Miriam was involved
in many community organizations. These
include The Lexington Woman's Club (Creative Arts Chair and "Follies"
participant for many years), UK Woman's Club, National Society for the
Preservation of Covered Bridges, UK Art Museum, Living Arts/Science Center, Headley-Whitney
Museum, Foundation Board of the
Lexington Public Library, charter member of the Kentucky Watercolor Society, volunteer
at The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, and others! From 1962-64,
she served as business manager of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra. During
that time, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy invited the orchestra to play on the
White House lawn as part of a series of youth concerts, and she accompanied the
orchestra to Washington, DC.
Survivors include her son, Michael Kimber (Marian) of Iowa City, IA; daughters Jeanne Keats (Bob) of Louisville, KY and Sally Horowitz, Lexington; step-daughter Allison Woolfolk of Sonoma, CA; 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 32 years, Patch G. Woolfolk (professor of Animal Sciences at UK); her sister, Audrey Ross Wood; daughter Patty Jones; and stepdaughter Leslie Woolfolk.
Visitation and Services will be at Milward Funeral Home, 159 N Broadway, Lexington on Saturday, November 30th. Visitation 11 am to 1 pm, service beginning at 1 pm.
Guest Book
david and becky nelson
saysWhen we retired from service at Berea College in 2005, we moved to Hanover Towers in Lexington. There we met Miriam and got to know her by joining the puzzle-working crew in a lounge after supper. We learned of Miriam's many skills in oil and watercolor painting, her avidity for covered bridges, her interest in gem and rock exhibitions. Over the years we took took many trips with her to to see art collections, gem and rock shows, various covered bridges, and just to cruise around through the splendid countryside. Her paintings and watercolors on her apartment walls were impressive indeed. Her special artistic interest while we knew her was miniatures; they were little gems. Ten of them hang on a wall in Hanover Towers. Miriam was very proud of her son and daughters, and also her nieces and nephews. Her network of acquaintances with poets, other artists, and gem collections was impressive. Last year she was honored by the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra for her service; her picture was prominently displayed in all CKYO programs for the year, with a description of her contributions to that invaluable organization. For many years, Becky and I had Sunday lunch with her after services at Second Presbyterian Church. We miss her, and wish her godspeed to join her beloved husband, Patch, who preceder her in death.
Dennis Wood
saysMiriam, You have always been my favorite aunt! I will miss your chocolate money. And I will remember you as funny, beautiful, and accomplished. Say "hello" to my mom for me. -Denny