Changes

Mary Virginia Hoss and David Ewart Smitherman

Mary Virginia Hoss and David Ewart Smitherman

'''Alma mater''':<br>

'''Alma mater''':<br>

Sophie Newcomb College ([[New Orleans]])}}

Sophie Newcomb College ([[New Orleans]])}}

'''Geraldine Smitherman Wray''', known as '''Jerry Wray''' (December 15, 1925 &ndash; May 29, 2018), was a watercolor painter in her native [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]].<ref name=death>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/entertainment/arts/2018/05/29/shreveport-artist-jerry-wray-dies-92/652465002/|title=Jerry Wray, beloved Shreveport artist, is dead at 92|author=Michele Marcotte and Margaret "Maggie" Martin|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=May 29, 2018|accessdate=May 30, 2018}}</ref>

'''Geraldine Smitherman Wray''', known as '''Jerry Wray''' (December 15, 1925 &ndash; May 29, 2018), was a watercolor painter in her native [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]].<ref name=death>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/entertainment/arts/2018/05/29/shreveport-artist-jerry-wray-dies-92/652465002/|title=Jerry Wray, beloved Shreveport artist, is dead at 92|author=Michele Marcotte and Margaret "Maggie" Martin|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=May 29, 2018|accessdate=May 30, 2018}}</ref>

A daughter of the former Mary Virginia Hoss and David Ewart Smitherman, Mrs. Wray attended South Highlands Elementary School and graduated from Clifton Ellis "C.E." Byrd High School in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=geraldine-smitherman-wray-jerry&pid=189149175|title=Geraldine Smitherman "Jerry" Wray obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=May 31, 2018}}</ref> She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1943 from the Newcomb College Art School at [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]], at which she learned to work in watercolor, inks, acrylics, and collage to produce visual expressions with emphasis on color. She represented Newcomb at a student exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in [[New York City]]. Mrs. Wray has won more than forty awards in the last thirty years in referred exhibits. She has had twenty-eight shows between 2002 and 2017 as well as group exhibitions throughout the United States and the [[Virgin Islands]]. Her paintings have been purchased internationally for Fortune 500 companies as well as private collections. A [[Germany|German]] firm purchased some of her originals. She was also in demand in [[Japan]]. In 1996, she was elected to the National Association of Women Artists. In 1999, she was won the showcase award from ''Manhattan Arts Magazine.'' Wray's work is available in seven galleries and seven museums worldwide, including the Meadows Museum in Shreveport and the Biblical Art Museum in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]].<ref name=resume>{{cite web|url=http://www.jerrywray.com/resume|title=Jerry Wray - Contemporary American Artist - Resume|publisher=jerrywray.com|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/jerry-wray.html?tab=about|title=About Jerry Wray|publisher=Fineartamerica.com|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref>

A daughter of the former Mary Virginia Hoss and David Ewart Smitherman, Mrs. Wray attended South Highlands Elementary School and graduated from [[Clifton Ellis Byrd|Clifton Ellis "C.E." Byrd High School]] in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=geraldine-smitherman-wray-jerry&pid=189149175|title=Geraldine Smitherman "Jerry" Wray obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=May 31, 2018}}</ref> She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1943 from the Newcomb College Art School at [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]], at which she learned to work in watercolor, inks, acrylics, and collage to produce visual expressions with emphasis on color. She represented Newcomb at a student exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in [[New York City]]. Mrs. Wray has won more than forty awards in the last thirty years in referred exhibits. She has had twenty-eight shows between 2002 and 2017 as well as group exhibitions throughout the United States and the [[Virgin Islands]]. Her paintings have been purchased internationally for Fortune 500 companies as well as private collections. A [[Germany|German]] firm purchased some of her originals. She was also in demand in [[Japan]]. In 1996, she was elected to the National Association of Women Artists. In 1999, she was won the showcase award from ''Manhattan Arts Magazine.'' Wray's work is available in seven galleries and seven museums worldwide, including the Meadows Museum in Shreveport and the Biblical Art Museum in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]].<ref name=resume>{{cite web|url=http://www.jerrywray.com/resume|title=Jerry Wray - Contemporary American Artist - Resume|publisher=jerrywray.com|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/jerry-wray.html?tab=about|title=About Jerry Wray|publisher=Fineartamerica.com|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref>

Besides her solo paintings, Wray also painted with her four daughters and grandchildren. The three generations exhibited their work at the Barnwell Art Center in Shreveport. She has painted more than one thousand paintings between 2007 and 2017. From 2006 to 2017, she had twenty one-person shows. She was inducted into the Visual Arts Hall of Fame and the C. E. Byrd High School Hall of Fame, both in Shreveport.<ref name=resume/> Daughter Mary Virginia Hill said that her mother was dedicated to her family, art, and tennis, which she had to stop playing for the last five years of her life.<ref name=death/>

Besides her solo paintings, Wray also painted with her four daughters and grandchildren. The three generations exhibited their work at the Barnwell Art Center in Shreveport. She has painted more than one thousand paintings between 2007 and 2017. From 2006 to 2017, she had twenty one-person shows. She was inducted into the Visual Arts Hall of Fame and the C. E. Byrd High School Hall of Fame, both in Shreveport.<ref name=resume/> Daughter Mary Virginia Hill said that her mother was dedicated to her family, art, and tennis, which she had to stop playing for the last five years of her life.<ref name=death/>