A Delta artist who recently had his works featured in an exhibit in Greenwood died in a fatal car accident Saturday.
John Meek, a Merigold native who was based out of Tallahatchie County, was 63 years old.
Sunflower County Coroner Heather Burton said Meek was driving south on U.S. 49 between Parchman and Drew when he collided with a northbound vehicle.
She said Meek was killed instantly while the driver of the other vehicle was airlifted from the scene.
Meek worked primarily with watercolors. He said his mentors were Sammy Britt, a retired art professor at Delta State University, and the late Jim Seale, former director of fine arts for Greenwood manufacturer John-Richard.
Meek told the Commonwealth in May that Seale complimented his work during a painting workshop at Delta State, giving him motivation to make a career out of it.
“I did my first watercolor with (Seale),” Meek said. “He said, ‘How long you been doing this?’ I said this was my first one. He said, ‘Well, you need to do this. You’re good at it.’”
Meek’s watercolor paintings and photography were featured in May and June at the Museum of the Mississippi Delta. He was supposed to have an exhibit before the COVID-19 pandemic and spent the intervening years creating “a lot of inventory.”
Lisa Cookston, the museum’s executive director, said she was devastated to learn of Meek’s death Monday morning.
“He was very talented. Incredibly friendly,” she said. “He loved the Delta. His family lived here for generations. And he loved painting what he saw around him. I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know him”
Meek’s exhibit ended late last month, but Cookston allowed him to take his time in collecting what was left.
His brother, Carlysle Meek, said that John Meek’s works will remain at the museum for the time being and available for purchase, with proceeds assisting his family. Meek is survived by his wife, Peg, and a grown son, Charlie.
Carlysle Meek said the money that his brother made from selling his artwork was the couple’s sole source of income.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
