2026 | Oil on linen panel | 34 × 40”

Framed in walnut milled in Big Woods, Maryland

Created with support from the Maryland State Arts Council

In memory of Beulah Clarke Harper (1911–1976) and Jane Bast Stearns (1927–2019)

WUMCO Help, serving Western Upper Montgomery County, traces its origins to the Jerusalem community home of Beulah Harper, who ran a food and clothing pantry, organized transportation, and advocated for housing access. She was later joined by her best friend and partner in service, Jane Stearns, a lifelong champion for the disadvantaged. Following Beulah’s death, Jane and her husband, Fred Stearns, continued the organization from their home near Big Woods.

This painting addresses a longstanding desire to give both women permanent public acknowledgement for their committed service to their communities and to raise awareness of Beulah’s foundational role. Their leadership still echoes in the organization’s ongoing mission but was documented only in temporary materials and often unknown to younger volunteers and clients.

The project included extensive community feedback, studio visits, and shared stories and images. It also involved visiting their respective churches, as the church community was central to both women. In placing the piece directly in their current workspace, WUMCO Help also sought to give a better sense of ownership, reconnection, and belonging to the historic communities which Beulah and Jane had long served.