Hearne, Georgia Pearsall, 1885-1981

Georgia Pearsall (1885-1981) was born in Rockingham, N.C. but spent much of her early life in Georgia. Later, she moved to Red Springs, N.C. She studied art and music at Southern Presbyterian College in Red Springs (later Flora Macdonald College) and continued her art education at Washington College, ca. 1920-1923 and at the Art Students' League in New York City, 1923-1924, 1933-1934. While in New York, she studied also music under Gustav L. Becker. As early as 1916, Miss Pearsall taught art and music in eastern N.C. communities, including Greenville, Rocky Mount, and Smithfield. In 1926 she married Closs Wrightman Hearne (1884 – 1945), the son of Benjamin Howell Hearne and Charlotte E. Moore Hearne. The couple settled in Greenville, where Georgia continued to teach art and music, at her home. Her portraits of prominent North Carolinians, including Sallie Southall Cotten and Governor Angus Wilton McLean, earned her statewide recognition as an artist.