PORTSMOUTH—James Robert Burnell left this world Sept. 4 as he entered it 91 years ago: loved and surrounded by family. He passed peacefully less than two miles from his grandparent's King Street house, where he was born Nov. 11, 1929 in what was then Norfolk County.

He was predeceased by his parents, Katherine Hudson Burnell Rawls and James Washington Burnell; his son, Jan Terry Burnell; his sister, Gail Burnell Melchor; and his stepsister, Julianne Rawls Cherry.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 31 years, Mary E. (Betty) Burnell; son, Rick E. Burnell (Tammy) of Virginia Beach; brother Tom Burnell (Pam), of Chesapeake; grandchildren Jay Burnell (Shell) and Rachel Hale (David) also of Virginia Beach; Lathan Riley (Sandra) of South Carolina; Katy Evans (Ryan) of Richmond; and Jan Michael Burnell, of Norfolk. He also counts 10 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild among his survivors; two stepsons, Kevin and Jason Hirschfeld; one stepsister, Jeanne Rawls Silva; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. The list would not be complete without the two furbabies, AndHe and Surely. (Ask Betty about those names if you want to know.)

He lived a full and expansive life but always remained grounded in the traditions, faith and love of his community; a place that loomed large in his heart and in his critically-acclaimed depictions of life along Tidewater's waterways, which, like him, are honest and authentic.

Bob first visited Westhaven Baptist Church in Portsmouth at two weeks old. He stuck with it. He graduated from Wilson High School after attending Hargrave Military Academy, ultimately going on to study architecture at Georgia Tech. He worked in the family floor covering business, in sales for tile and carpet manufacturers and launched an independent contracting company to support his goal of becoming a full-time artist.

He was a prolific and generous talent who created upward of 6,000 paintings in his lifetime.  Being the generous man that he was, he gave many of his works away to friends and family or to residents of the nursing homes where for decades he volunteered to share his love of the craft. He led weeklong workshops and a weekly class (free) at Westhaven Baptist Church and taught at Tidewater Community College for more than 30 years.

Bob, who had a wide smile and quick wit, was an everyman's artist who painted the lived experience of working people and the landscapes they inhabited. His art graces the walls of homes, hospitals, offices, banks, airports, hotels and the collections of the Chrysler Museum and the National Air & Space Museum, among others.

He earned several best in show awards and recognition for lifetime achievement by the Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission, and the Cultural Alliance of Hampton Roads Vianne Webb Award. He was a founding artist of the Boardwalk Art Show in Virginia Beach, the Seawall Art Show in Portsmouth, and the Nansemond Suffolk Academy Art Show, Suffolk.

He'd be embarrassed of us making a fuss over these accomplishments, but he left us with pride in his contributions and big shoes to fill. He was a man of great humor, strong faith, humility and generosity. The Bible was his favorite book and he read it daily. He genuinely loved his family, and his family is grateful for that love and the time he spent with them from childhood through life – his and theirs.

Among his other loves were architectural and interior design, and sailing the Chesapeake Bay. He loved cruising up and down the bay and gunkholing and docking in marinas, camera in hand to capture scenes for his paintings. He equally enjoyed racing and won several trophies in southern bay races with his wife as first (and last) mate. He was a member of the Portsmouth Yacht Club, Portsmouth Boat Club, Hampton Yacht Club, and represented the Portsmouth Boat Club on the Southern Bay division of the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet of the Chesapeake.

Bob didn't write this obituary; he was too humble. He always said he did not want to be famous, he wanted his paintings to be famous. His legacy will live on in the work he loved and in the lasting impact of his love on family and friends.

A funeral service is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, at Westhaven Baptist Church, 4900 Caroline Ave. in Portsmouth, Pastor Rick Hudock presiding. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.; a reception will follow the service, after which the family will hold a graveside service at Olive Branch Cemetery.  Please make a contribution to Westhaven Baptist Church in lieu of flowers, at the above address. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.