Miriam Ruth Woolfolk

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.