Opal, better known as “Trixie,” Porter was born in Martin, Tennessee in 1913. She developed an interest in art at an early age according to her daughter, Cheryl McConnell. Her first known oil painting at the age of 11 years was a winter snow scene done on the back of a poster. She was still painting at the age of 90 years or almost until her death on October 5, 2004.
Trixie met a Kentucky tobacconist named Vernon “Jack” Porter whom she married in 1933. The couple were blessed with two daughters, Beverly and Cheryl . Fuquay-Varina’s long connection with tobacco sales brought the couple to North Carolina in 1949. Jack was in the employee of North State Tobacco Company, a redrying plant here then.
The tobacco markets, two daughters, and many adventures later she had made a career for herself with work well renowned in our town. Head of residential design for Standard Homes Plan Service on Sunset Lake Road, she was responsible for many home designs in the area all found in their plan books during her 25 year career there.
Trixie was noted for her exuberance. One such incident involved her volunteering as a “sidewalk artist” for the Jr/Sr prom at Fuquay Springs High in 1963. She dressed the part for their “Evening in Paris” theme that year.
The wardrobes of many gentlemen in town may still possess one of her hand-painted neckties. Her daughter says she sold about 1,000 to individuals and men’s shops. Jack would model one on the various tobacco markets and come home with numbers of orders, even some from other countries. Eleanor Howard told us of one tie in J. E. Howard’s collection. Many other individuals have one or more of her original art miniatures which she sold out at the “Two Flags Over Fuquay” festivals every year. Cheryl has recreated copies of these in “My Mama’s Art.”
One of her most recognized paintings, “The Tobacco Man,” hangs in the Fuquay-Varina Woman’s Club Clubhouse. Trixie was Chair of the Arts Department in the Fuquay-Varina Woman’s Club, Woman of the Year 1953, and donor of the original painting to the club. The Art Department framed the painting and hung it over the fireplace during the 1956-57 administration when they completed the new brick facade over the chimney.
Joanna Johnson Proctor (from the Standard Homes family) picked one of Trixie’s originals, a depiction of the spring house over the Fuquay Mineral Spring, to represent the Fuquay Springs Quester Chapter 1034. Chapters designate an historic name when formed.
Cheryl has made a collection of her mother’s works and allowed the Fuquay-Varina Museums to realize some of the profit from sales. The museums still have a number of miniatures, Christmas ornaments, and even a package of notecards. Cheryl has access to many reproduction pieces. Trixie’s subjects ranged from tobacco life here to scenes at the beach and things in between. We are not sure of the subject or category of her First Prize entries into the GFWC Arts Festival but she brought fame to the club those years.
The Friends of the Museums are happy to recognize Trixie Porter for her contributions to our town’s history and her extensive work in all mediums from pastels to oil.
Shirley Simmons
Sources: FV Woman’s Club archives, Fuquay Springs Quester archives, Cheryl McConnell’s contributions of pictures and material.