Lianne Nmn Lurie

Lianne Lurie of Williamsburg, born to the late Randolph G. Lurie and Frances F. Lurie peacefully passed away Sunday, July 8th at home after a short illness. Lianne as a lifelong artist worked in many mediums with her favorite being clay. Her artistic journey began as a young girl with memories of being first exposed to clay at Bogg’s pottery near Montgomery, Alabama. Lianne graduated from Cloverdale High School in Montgomery Alabama and attended the University of Alabama and Northeast Louisiana State University studying art there and also attended Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. Lianne sold her work in many of the regional art fairs winning numerous awards. Lianne was always willing to share her love of art by teaching pottery to children and adults alike. Along with volunteering at her children’s school she also sponsored the 4H club and taught pottery for many years for the department of parks and recreation for the City of Newport News. Lianne’s interests were varied and many including: gardening, cooking, baking, sewing, quilting, reading, and she had the uncanny ability to find four leaf clovers by just a glance on the ground or eyes to the heavens to look for shooting stars. One of her favorite sayings was: “I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight”. She loved fast cars, correct grammar, flowers, dogs, all animals, butterflies, and rainbows. Nature was a great source of inspiration for Lianne, using it as design in her art and incorporating many aspects of it into her work. Lianne was a beautiful soul and sought beauty in all that she did and had a keen eye for design and knew how to make art a part of everyday life whether it be interior design, handcrafts, architectural elements, or placement of handcrafted objects in one’s environment. One of her many gifts that she loved was sharing her love of art with friends and family whether through a handmade card, a painting, a quilt block or a pillow and produced a piece of art most every day. Lianne lived her beliefs, was genuine, passionate and giving of herself to those willing to accept and she fulfilled her desire to bring art to the community and others by opening a small pottery store called A Touch of Earth in the Wythe Green Shoppes in 1977 which featured her work and that of her husband Paul, which continues to this day. Part of sharing with the community involved musicians playing at different times of the year at A Touch of Earth. Surviving family members are husband, Paul Pittman; son, Randy Phillips and daughter-in-law, Brenda Phillips, (granddaughters, Rebecca and Anna); son, Luke Phillips and daughter-in-law, Tammy Phillips, (granddaughter, Stephanie and grandson, Joshua). Loved by family and many friends, Lianne will forever be in our hearts. With special thanks to all the wonderful, and compassionate nurses (4th floor south wing) and staff at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Hospital and Sentara Hospice. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to: Sentara Foundation (Hospice), The Heritage Humane Society: 430 Waller Mill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts: 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg TN 37738, or James City County Toano Fire Dept : 3135 Forge Road, Toano, VA 23168. Lianne had requested no services be conducted. Lianne will be interred in a family plot in Montgomery Alabama. A celebration of Lianne’s life will be held at A Touch of Earth in the fall of 2018. Online condolences may be shared at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.