Editor’s note: Morrill Turner Hutchinson was honored at the LaGrange Art Museum’s annual meeting Jan. 30. The museum’s upstairs area, which is being converted to house the permanent collection, is named in her honor: The Morrill Turner Hutchinson Collection Conservation Center. In addition, the top award at the annual Creative Youth Art League Art Exhibition will be known as the Morrill Turner Hutchinson Best of Show Award.

Here are excerpts from remarks made by Laura Jennings, museum past president, at the event.

The day Morrill Turner signed on as a designer for Callaway Mills in 1944 was the day the world of visual arts in LaGrange took an upward turn. While designing tablecloths, towels and rugs first in LaGrange and then in New York City, Morrill thought of the unmet art education needs of Troup County’s school children.

“When I was here, only the children at Unity School were getting art in the classroom,” she said. Concern for that void clung to her conscience for many years. After marrying Dr. William Hutchinson and getting three young sons to school age, she put her mind to improving our visual arts offerings.

Morrill knew that just as art inspires creativity in individuals, it also makes for a vibrant community. She and four like-minded friends hatched the idea of the Chattahoochee Valley Art Association in 1963 and, in Morrill’s words, “set out to find the finest slate of officers and not a one asked declined.” And so, with a single painting in its permanent collection - a Lamar Dodd - the museum was born.

Morrill’s unconditional love for the museum’s mission allowed her to weather the ups and yes, the downs. Like the long haul work of a mother rearing a child, Morrill encouraged, prodded, prayed, reflected, role modeled, and, when necessary, stamped her feet.

The McDonough native was instrumental in the creation of the Creative Youth Art League, an outreach program to encourage young artists, particularly in high school. Morrill provided funds and guidance but the program never fully achieved her vision. Again, Morrill weathered the ugly teen years of a beloved offspring. The program is back on track and includes an annual juried show featuring the work of teens from five counties, the majority having never before set foot in an art museum.

And while Morrill was improving art education for all of us, she was also a prolific artist. While watercolors were her best-known medium, she was always experimenting with different media and styles. The ingredients for her success were discipline and the want to create.

Morrill also had a vision for the museum’s permanent collection, which grew from the one Lamar Dodd to almost 550 pieces. She felt like the only person who understood the importance of making museum-quality conservation, storage and inventorying a crucial priority. When she learned that the permanent collection was finally inventoried and soon to be professionally stored, Morrill teared up and said, “I just wish I could help you all.” What she meant is the “roll up your sleeves and make it happen” kind of help. With a body no longer capable of such labor, she provided funding from the coffers built from her labors.

Morrill’s lifelong devotion to a cause provides a lesson for us all. Rocks must be tumbled to make gems.