Jessica Gilliam Boatwright
Augusta, GA – Jessica Gilliam Boatwright of Augusta, Georgia, died September 1, 2015. She was born on April 10, 1931 and was a native of Lynchburg, Virginia. She graduated from Mary Baldwin College, where she was President of Student Government and a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
She was a charter member and elder of Covenant Presbyterian Church, a past member of Augusta Junior League, Augusta Symphony Guild, charter member of Augusta Heritage Church, past member of Sand Hills Garden Club, Garden Club of America and Sun Dial Garden Club. She was President of the board of Meals on Wheels where she organized the weekend deliveries of meals for Richmond County. Ms. Boatwright received the outstanding volunteer of the year award from the Augusta Soup Kitchen program, and participated as a volunteer on various community organizations.
She was active in the field of art, being a past member of the Gurtrude Herbert Art Association, Morris Museum of Art, South Carolina Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Association, North Georgia Art Association, Aiken Center for the Arts and Aiken Art Association. She had exhibited in New York, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Paris, France. Her print and ink renderings of homes and historical buildings were numerous. She designed humorous notecards and Raku jewelry. Commissioned artwork includes Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta Country Club, Georgia Ironworks, Fox Sports and Turner Broadcasting, and the U.S. Capital. She exhibited in the Georgia governor’s office and Tour de Bloom in Paris, France.
She is survived by her daughter: Truett Claussen Vondrak and husband Larry of Houston, Texas; Sons: Duke Gilliam Claussen and wife Vickye of Marietta, Georgia, James Gilliam Claussen and wife Andrea of Atlanta, Georgia, and Ward Buck Claussen and wife Tammy, of Charlotte, North Carolina; eight grandchildren; five step children and their 9 children; brother Thomas West Gilliam and wife Diane of Charlotesville, Virginia. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs Thomas West Gilliam of Lynchburg, Virginia and granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. George Washington Truett of Dallas and Mr. and Mrs. James Richard Gilliam of Lynchburg, Virginia.
A memorial service will be conducted Friday, September 4, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. at Covenant Presbyterian Church by the Reverend Rob Watkins.
If so desired, memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, Golden Harvest Food Bank or Burn Center at Doctors Hospital.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening, Sept. 3, 2015, from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com