Valdoris Rice Wright

A Life of Art and Love for Nature (1942-2023) It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Valdoris Rice Wright, formerly Valdoris Blackwell, on February 26, 2023. Born on January 31, 1942, in Memphis, Val lived a vibrant life filled with art, nature, and travel. She is survived by her loving son, Robert Blackwell, and her cherished grandchildren, Benjamin and Ace. Val's talent for art led her to study at the Memphis College of Art and ultimately graduate from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. As an award-winning plein air watercolor artist, she made an indelible mark on the world of art. A staunch advocate for the natural world, Val's love for nature was evident in her stunning artwork. Throughout her life, Val lived in various places such as Chicago, IL, Hardy, AR, and Naples, FL. She was a devoted member of several watercolor societies, including the Watercolor USA Honor Society, with a Diamond Signature membership in Mid-Southern Watercolorists. She was also a signature member of watercolor societies in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Southern, Southwest, Western Colorado, and Watercolor West. Val's love for travel not only provided her with a wealth of experiences, but also inspired her art. She delighted in exploring new places, meeting new people, and painting the beauty she encountered along the way. Val was predeceased by her husbands, Johnson Blackwell and Tom Wright. She will be remembered as a talented artist, a lover of nature, and a warm, welcoming soul who brought joy and beauty to the lives of all who knew her. A service to celebrate Val's life will be held on Monday, March 20th, at 11:00 AM at: Memorial Park Funeral Home 5668 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN 38119 In lieu of flowers, donations in Val's memory can be made to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida at https://conservancy.org/donate/ or The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts at https://my.arkmfa.org/donate/. Let us honor her legacy by supporting the causes she was so passionate about.