David Broyles/The News

Jackie Hemingway Joyner is seeking information to identify the little girl in this pastel sketch by local artist Luke Collins. The sketch was found in the basement of the late artist’s home in Mount Airy and Joyner is seeking to identify and “return” the sketch to the girl’s family.

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A recent find by Jackie Hemingway Joyner of a sketch by local artist Luke Collins has yielded a sketch of a beautiful young girl with everything, but a name.

Joyner, who was cleaning out the former home of the late artist, found the sketch still on his easel where Collins and his late wife, Rebecca, once lived on Ridgeway Drive. Collins, who produced the drawings on the Mount Airy War Memorial, died in 2006. Joyner said she could find nothing in the basement to identify the little girl with other items from Collins’ workshop.

The likeness peaked Joyner’s curiosity and love of mystery.

“I saw that darling little girl and I felt that someone had to recognize her,” said Joyner.

She explained that as long as she remembered her father had been an artist. Collins was truly a renaissance man however, and played football for Mount Airy High School. Collins’ portrait dedicated to Granite Bear Coach Wally Shelton still is on display at MAHS.

Collins’ artistic skills secured him a position with Mount Airy Granite, where he worked as a draftsman for the company. Joyner said she still has his War Memorial drawing sketches. She added that he was best friends with Charles Dowell of Snappy Lunch.

The late Rebecca Collins was widely known about town as the drive-through window person at RBC Centura Bank.

“They loved the little neighborhood they lived in,” commented Joyner. “They both really loved Mount Airy.”

The sketch is drawn in Collins’ favorite medium, pastels. Joyner said she would love to not only get the girl in the sketch identified but would like to she her “returned” to her family.

“She was too adorable to just dust off,” said Joyner. “I think someone out there could recognize her and would like to have her back. To claim her and frame her.”

Persons with information on the identity of the girl in the sketch may send a card or letter with the information in care of Jackie Joyner, 428 Cut Away Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746. Interested persons must include a name and a phone number where they can be contacted.

Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.