Anne Richardson Paszek

Anne Worsham Richardson Paszek, 92, of Charleston, South Carolina, widow of Johannes Peter Paszek, entered into eternal rest Sunday, September 2, 2012. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, September 6, 2012 in John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Highway at 11:00 am. Interment, Old St. Andrew's Parish Episcopal Churchyard. The family will receive friends at J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL, on Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Anne was born October 22, 1919 in Turbeville, South Carolina, the daughter of George T. Worsham and Jessie Phillips Worsham. She was a graduate of Clarendon County High School.

Anne taught herself to paint growing up, eventually settling on birds as the primary subjects of most of her works, though she loved all animals. State and federal governments issued her permits to rehabilitate birds and wildlife in her bird sanctuary on James Island, where she nursed everything from hummingbirds to hawks back to health and used them as models for her paintings. She also raised several orphaned deer that she then released back into the wild. She loved to give lectures about her adventures with the animals depicted in her works, many of which she helped raise. She even taught her captive blue-jays to repeat her feeding call to them; they would say Come on chi-chi come on whenever a visitor entered the sanctuary. She opened her home to many school children and other educational groups to share her love for nature.

It was her hope that her paintings would reveal to others, at least in a small way, "an appreciation and respect for all life, and our need to protect our natural resources." Anne and her husband, Johannes Peter Paszek, founded the Birds I View Gallery on Church Street forty years ago, and it remains one of the oldest continuing art galleries in Charleston.

Anne's work has been exhibited in the Gibbes Museum of Art, New York's Kennedy Galleries, the California State Museum, the Morton Arboretum in Chicago and even a castle in Glucksburg, Germany, at the behest of Prince Friedrich Ferdinand. She was the first female painter of birds to be selected by the National Wildlife Federation to receive the "Art Print of the Year" award.

Anne was invited to the White House by President Gerald R. Ford, and Senator Strom Thurman read "A Profile, Anne Worsham Richardson, Everyday A Celebration" by Melanie Gause Harris into "The Congressional Record". She is the official painter of the State bird (Carolina Wren) and Flower (Yellow Jessamine), and the State Butterfly (Tiger Swallow-tail butterfly). She was honored to be one of 2012 Inspiring Women by Women in Philanthropy and Leadership for Coastal Carolina University.

Anne was one of the seven founders of the Charleston Artist Guild, and served as its Treasurer, Vice President, President, and Director. She served on the board of directors of many local organizations including the SPCA, South Carolina Artist Guild, Carolina Bird Club, Charleston Family Y, and was a life member of the Charleston Council of the U. S. Navy League. Anne was a United States Wildlife Volunteer appointed by the Department of the Interior. She also was a member of John Wesley United Methodist Church.

Anne is survived by her niece, Anne Maree Lawrence Judd (Thomas) of Charleston, SC; grandson, Marvin D. Richardson III (Thelda), great grandson, Joshua, and great granddaughter, Samantha Anne, of Hume, IL; niece, Rose Maree Hadaway of Summerville; nephew K. T. Slawson Jr. (Jean) of FL; nephew Walter Worsham (Carolyn); niece Sara Jean Worsham; nephew Charles Worsham (Beth); nephew George Worsham (Sally) of Summerville; niece Anne Phillips (Lamar) of Mt. Pleasant; nephew G. Fred Worsham M.D.(Nancy); nephew Phillip Worsham of FL; niece Mary Anne W. Armstrong of Texas; and nephew Frank Worsham of Charleston.

Memorials may be made to John Wesley United Methodist Church, 626 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407 or Hospice Center of Charleston, 501 Wando Park Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 or to Roper Hospital Foundation, 125 Doughty Street #790, Charleston, SC 29403.