Worth Cooley-Prost, artist, writer, social justice advocate and a woman of fine mind, wise heart and a defined sense of the absurd, died unexpectedly Thursday, May 8th surrounded by loved ones. Worth was born in California, North Carolina was her heart-home, and she lived in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Willy, the technical yoda of the Smithsonian’s audio-visual department. Their daughter Eleanor, also an artist, is a designer and blueberry farmer in Pennsylvania. Worth’s friends, teachers, students and dear ones span the globe and Andrea the span of time. Worth’s academic background was in psychology and sociology. In North Carolina she worked in human services, and after moving to the Washington area in 1980, she worked in biomedical research for 25 years. Of her art of the past fifteen plus years, Worth said: “What I do is influenced, in more ways than I’m aware of, by roots in the coast and mountains of North Carolina… by a decade of deep attachments in Haiti and, more recently, the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico… by Gifts of learning from indigenous Peoples, especially those of our hemisphere, both North and South…. and by life teachers like Alan Watts, Kenneth Patchen, and my poet/friend Will Inman, who observed in 1966 that “Truth don’t stop to pick the teeth of the man that says it.”In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates gifts made to the Worth Cooley-Prost memorial fund: http://tinyurl.com/wcpmemorial”Some of Worth’s writings are being gathered in a blog at http://finishyourstory.wordpress.com “
Offer Condolence for the family of Worth Elizabeth Cooley-Prost
811 Cameron St., Alexandria, VA, 22314
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My mother was brilliant and courageous and cared deeply about the well-being of every living being.
I am so grateful to be her daughter, so grateful for the Important Things she taught me, and so grateful for the impact that she has made on my life and our world.
A beautiful woman, artist and friend. I’ll miss our conversations and discoveries in glass and life.
As a fellow artisan to have enjoyed Worth’s friendship these past 10 years, my heart truly goes out to Willie, Eleanor and Worth’s family. Worth embodied the very best of humanity in her rare wisdom, humor and profound compassion for all living things. In her art, her stories, her life and most especially her spirit, she has been a gift to the planet and now, to the larger cosmos of which she and we all are forever part.
Gloria Freund
McLean VA
I had the good fortune to meet Worth and purchase one of her glass necklaces that represents a Sufi proverb of the three gates that every word should pass through before it is spoken — is it kind, is it true, is it necessary. So many people have commented on the necklace and I take the time to explain its meaning. While it’s been years since I have seen Worth, I think of her every time I wear the necklace, and its message is being passed on everywhere. My sincere condolences to all her family.
Sincerely,
Marilyn McHugh, Nokesville, VA
I have not seen Worth in quite a few years, but I will always remember how tirelessly she worked at the Washington Office on Haiti on behalf of the Haitian people and against the dictatorship in Haiti in the late 80s. Those of us who worked with her to promote democracy will never forget her dedication to the cause of democracy in Haiti, her capacity to organize, her readiness to help. May she rest in peace. Na wè lòt bò,Worth. Fè bon wout..
I met Worth at the first Turtle Women Rising gathering in WDC. We were tying prayer ties. Found out we had many connections. I was born in the hospital in Kinston, NC that her grandfather had founded. Our grandfathers were in the same Masonic Lodge. I shall treasure the beautiful art of her jewelry and cards and such that I have over the years. More precious now. She called us sisters from different coasts. I was honored to spend their 25th anniversary with them. I shall miss our many long talks about everything activism. Many Blessings on your next journey dear sister. Sharon Lee Kufeldt
So very sorry to hear this. I was Worth and Willy’s mail carrier for many years and also am the proud owner of a few of her necklaces and earrings. They reflect such beauty, as she did.
I met Worth in 1968 and I knew her through 1969. We were both involved in the civil rights and anti-war movements. At that time I believe she worked for the telephone company and I was a paid staff organizer for Southern Student Organizing Committee. For the better part of a year, I lived with her, her boyfriend Jim, and her good friend Gail in an apartment in Durham, NC. Worth was an absolutely wonderful, caring, intelligent, and fun person to be around and quite a beauty, as well!. We shared good times, as well as severe police repression the police broke down the door to our apartment without a warrant to arrest me & Jim simply for being radicals. I reconnected with Worth on Facebook a few years back, and I greatly enjoyed her posts… Always so positive and uplifting. What a sweet soul. It appears that her daughter is now carrying her great spirit.
Willy and Eleanor – please know that your Smithsonian extended family is thinking of you all and is so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Worth at some craft fairs and loved the beautiful jewelry she made. She put a smile on my face and made me laugh whenever I got to chat with her. You have our sincerest condolences.
Willy,
Though I never met your bride, I came to recognize the smile and the tone that you reserved for speaking of her: how she must have enjoyed the depth and strength of your admiration!
I am sorry for your loss.
Respectfully
Ian
Reflecting on the words of Maya Angelou and reading the contributions to this guest book, Worth was a Phenomenal woman. I wish I had met her.
Willy, I hope you and your daughter reflect and be grateful for the precious years that you spent with this wonderful woman. Not everyone has been so blest. Thinking of you,
Live Streaming of Mom’s memorial service is available for friends and dear ones who are not able to attend in person though if you are able to attend in person, please do
Here are the details ~ you may want to set up your free account now, so everything runs smoothly for you on Sunday
INSTRUCTIONS FOR VIEWING THE LIVE STREAM:
In order to view the event, those who wish to view it remotely will have to create a free account with livestream, by going to livestream.com
Once they create they account, they can then go to my channel by clicking here: http://new.livestream.com/acco…
The event will appear, all they do is click they event once they’re logged in and they should be able to view everything!
Shawn Leister-Frazier
W: 571.327.9500
Shawn@InnoVideoProductions.com
Thank you so much for this generous gift, Elizabeth Kimble ~ you are kind and generous and very appreciated <3<3<3
Thinking of Worth and family with much emotion and gratitude for her many gifts to so many who cared about so many more, now so much missed, now far too long since the last time we met… One night, many years ago, when glass was breaking in Haiti and men in stocking caps with and without mothers were commanded to roam the streets by men in suits or white jackets, and when photocopies were two cents apiece, Worth described in exquisite detail and with much precision the beautiful, erratic flight pattern of a rare subspecies of dragonfly observed in the garden of the villa of Katherine Dunham, and not far away a note written by Sherlock Holmes was discovered by chance inside a volume of memoires by the German ambassador waiting to be replaced on the shelves at the College du Petit Seminaire St-Martial in which the great detective declared that he had learned nearly all of his craft and his art from the woman who conveyed to him an understanding of the connectedness of science and human relations, in whose private laboratory countless mysteries were solved and unrelated people and events were connected – that woman being a certain Worth Cooley-Prost. Or so it seems, which is perhaps what matters most.
I was honored to know Worth. She was a Visionary. I wrote an Ode to her on wordpress at http://insectamonarca.wordpres…
May your Blessings flow freely and surround your family and friends who will honor your work with water and intentions into the unknown future.
I will publish some of your writings through Butterfly Woman Publishing. I did email your heart friends Tanya Whitedeer aka Grandmother Whitedeer, Cindy Dyer, and Deneen Stambone.
I won’t say goodbye. Till we meet again.
Mary Ellen Ryall
Executive Director
Happy Tonics, Inc. and owner Butterfly Woman Publishing