Hubert Walters 1931-2008

Above: Hubert Walters in his garage, below one of his pieces of art "Emancipated Slaves"

I just got an email from Kevin Gordon in Nashville sharing with me the sad news that we lost another great self-taught artist, Hubert Walters.  He died last week from complications due to leukemia.  

Hubert Walters

1931-2008  |  Troutman, NC  |  Sculptures

In the early 1970s, Jamaican fisherman Hubert Walters moved to North Carolina. He drove an ice cream truck for awhile and began to build replicas of small fishing boats, using wood and auto body putty, called “Bondo”. He paints them in graphic black and white, with touches of reds and oranges. His repertoire has grown to include grandfather clocks, animals, people, and buildings.   

Hubert Walters
Hubert Walters, 77, of 303 South Eastway Drive, Troutman, died on Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, at Iredell Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. He was born in Jamaica, West Indies, on Aug. 4, 1931, and was the son of the late Hurbert and Adrian Ferron Walters. He was married to Marion Collins Walters, who preceded him in death. A brother, Scott McKenzie and two sisters, Amy Hall and Luline Robatham, also preceded him in death. He attended schools in Jamaica, West Indies, however moved to United States in 1971, and became a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. He was self- employed as a folk artist. Survivors include daughters, Janice (Eric) Oteng of the home, and Pat (Jimmy) Parker and Michelle Martin, both of New York, N.Y., and Loretta (Ronald) Bynoe, of Charlotte; four brothers, Ronald Walters and Etel Walters, both of Jamaica, West Indies, Roy McKenzie and Winfred McKenzie, both of London, England; a sister, Pearl Kemp of Jamaica, West Indies, seven grandchildren, Tron Walters, Tony Dobbins, David Dobbins, Whitney Bynoe, Elizabeth Villars, Isaac Bynoe and Jennifer Reynolds; two great-grandchildren, Yasmine and Iyanna; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Brother Hans Neilson will officiate. The body will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary until taken to the Hall to lie in state at 1 p.m. Members of the family will receive friends at the church from 1:30 until 2 p.m. (30 minutes prior to the funeral hour), but will assemble at the residence at other times. Notes of sympathy may be emailed to the Walters family at Rutledgeinc@bellsouth.net. Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary, Statesville, is serving the family of Mr. Hubert Walters.