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Title
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Newspaper Clipping: She's An Artist At 98
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Accession Number
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2026.25.6
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Accession Date
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11 March 2026
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Accession Creator
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Adrienne Fuehrer
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Depositor
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Found in collection
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Description
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Passage by Edythe Green that highlights the artist accomplishments of the then 98-year-old Viola Kirkwood.
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Date
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23 February 1967
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Format
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paper
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Storage Location
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Box 11 Folder 3 (Viola Kirkwood)
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Text
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1967 THE GREE(cut off)
She's An Artist At 98
By Edythe Green GREER--In all her 98 years Mrs. Ramey Kirkwood has never found enough time to devote to her painting and music. "I love painting and music better than anything," says the retired optomistrist who celebrated her 98th birthday yesterday.
Her friends call her "remarkable" and "amazing" but Mrs. Kirkwood has a simple answer: "I just leave everything up to God."
Mrs. Kirkwood doesn't attend church now, but she retains an active interest in religion through the radio and television. "I listen to three sermons every Sunday so I'm not too far behind," she said.
Her home is filled with numerous objects she has created throughout her artistic life. There are many paintings of outdoor scenes, usually featuring a deer. Lately she has turned to making pictures from beads.
Mrs. Kirkwood regrets that she has had to give up her music but she plans to continue painting and sewing. She has played 10 different musical instruments in her lifetime, including the violin, guitar and harmonica.
DOESN'T HAVE TIME
"I do every bit of my work," she said. "I'd rather paint and play music but I don't have the time."
In addition to housekeeping and cooking, Mrs. Kirkwood still attends to her own personal needs. She even washes and sets her own hair.
The Kirkwoods in the 1919 moved to Greer where her late husband was a jeweler. She has lived in nine different states but has psent more time in Greer than in any other place.
Mrs. Kirkwood's advice to young people is "Do plenty of work. It doesn't kill anybody, but worry does."
She was quest of honor yesterday at a birthday party given by Circle 1 of the First Presbyterian Church.
GREER--Mrs. Ramey Kirkwood, who celebrated her 98th birthday yesterday, maintains a lively interest in art. The painting of the deer was done in the past, but the beaded pictured was completed recently. She also sews and does her own housework. (Greenville News-Piedmont staff photo by James G. Wilson)