Catherine Caldwell Cabaniss

After a full, generous and creative life, Catherine Caldwell Cabaniss died peacefully at home on Thursday, February 25 at the age 80. Catherine was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and an exceptional artist and friend. She was predeceased by her son, William Jelks Cabaniss, III. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, William Jelks Cabaniss, Jr. and their two daughters, Mary Cabaniss Ballard of Seattle and Frances Cabaniss Johnson (Kenny) of Mobile; her two sisters, Frances Caldwell Bennett (Claude) and Jean Foster Caldwell of Atlanta; and her brother Charles Shepperd Caldwell (Mary Ruth). Five grandchildren and several nieces and great-nieces and -nephews also survive her. Nothing gave Catherine more joy than being with her adored grandchildren: twins Maria Nancy Ballard and Frances Jean Ballard, Mary Steele Johnson, William Cabaniss Johnson and Kenneth Steele Johnson. She spent many happy hours with them at the Birmingham Museum of Art, introducing them to the wonders of art from around the world. Catherine was born in Birmingham on March 11, 1940 to Mary Catherine Hood and Charles Shepperd Caldwell, Jr. She graduated from Brooke Hill School (now Altamont) in 1957 and from Sweet Briar College in Virginia in 1961. After a year working in New York, she married the love of her life, Bill Cabaniss, in 1962 and they embarked on an extraordinary life together. After two years in Zweibrucken, Germany where Bill was stationed with the U.S. Army, they returned to Birmingham to start a family. In addition to raising their children, Catherine and Bill became very involved with the community and beyond. Bill was active in politics and Catherine, with artistic endeavors. In 1985, she earned a B.F.A. at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and served on the Board of the Birmingham Museum of Art. During this time, she began painting on her own and a career and a passion soon took hold. She was a prolific and multi-talented artist, working in oil, watercolor, charcoal and mixed-media. She had solo exhibitions in Birmingham, New York, Kennebunkport, and Portland, ME in addition to being in numerous group shows at galleries and museums. The latter included the New Britain Museum in Connecticut; Birmingham Museum of Art; Aspen Art Museum; and Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. The last time her works were on exhibit was at the prestigious Art Basel in Miami in January, 2020. When the Birmingham International Airport was being renovated in 1993, 17 artists in Alabama were selected by the Airport Art Committee to create works for the newly renovated facility. Catherine's large oil work, "Water-Based", is now on permanent display at the Airport. Catherine loved to teach. She taught art to emotionally conflicted youth at Studio-by-the-Tracks in Birmingham for 4 years, and conducted "plein air" painting classes for the Education Department at the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado. She also loved to entertain and did so beautifully and with a generous spirit. It was her way of showing affection to their many friends here and beyond. They did not just have acquaintances; they had very close friends in New York, Aspen, Kennebunkport and Prague with whom they kept close touch throughout the years. Not to mention the many friends from many different spheres here in Birmingham. When her husband Bill was appointed the U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic in 2004, Catherine was a great asset to him with her artistic interests and love of entertaining. (Bill said it was "payback time" for all the heavy canvases he had hauled around from show to show!) She established the "Art in Embassies Program" out of Washington for the first time in Prague. In the Program, American artists are picked to exhibit their work at an Embassy Residence and so their gorgeous Residence became a showcase of American art, thanks to her efforts. In her quiet determined way, Catherine opened up the world to her family and friends. We all benefitted from her curiosity and engagement with different people and places. She enriched our lives immeasurably and will be greatly missed. The family wishes to thank caretakers Lisa Hardwick, Elaine Harris, Mary Yeldell, Brandy Griffin and Tamara Woodard for their loving care and devotion to Catherine. Because of Covid, a Private Service will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church (3736 Montrose Road) on Monday, March 1st at 11:00 am. For those who wish to view the Service, there will be a YouTube link for live streaming: https://youtu.be/VlyAZ72RTj8 (case sensitive). In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Birmingham Museum of Art would be greatly appreciated (2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203).