Christiana (Tia) Elizabeth Wallman
April 13, 1952 ~ June 17, 2015
Christiana Elizabeth (Tia) Wallman died of breast cancer June 17, 2015 at Manor Care in Pinehurst NC.
A private memorial service will be held at 3 pm, Monday, June 22, 2015 at the Village Chapel in Pinehurst NC. Tia will be buried at a later date next to her two brothers, Chris and Peter in North Hatley, Quebec, Canada.
A graduate of Smith College, she was a writer, artist, and singer. Her memoir about Saigon was published in the English magazine, Granta, in 2006. Her 10-minute comedy, co-authored with her mother, Joan Blake, was performed at the 2007 New York Cringe Festival.
Under the name of Tia Blake, she recorded an LP of American and Irish Folk Songs with the SFP label in Paris, where she sang, once at the Vieux Colombier . Her recordings, photographs and original compositions are stored at the Southern Folk Life Collection, UNC Chapel Hill.
Surviving are her mother, Joan Blake, of Pinehurst NC, her brother, Parker Wallman of Pinehurst, sister and family, Joan and John Kuruc, Amanda and Christopher Kuruc of Cary NC, sister and family, Chellie and Kevin Kew, Jeannette and Octavio Kew of Scottsdale AZ, and her friend, William Dunbar of Ottawa, Canada.
The family wishes to thank Susan Brassil, P.A., FirstHealth Hospice, and Manor Care of Pinehurst for their caring and expert medical care.
Memorials may be made in Tia's name to Maureen Horansky of Animal Advocates of Moore County, 229 Ridgeline Road, Aberdeen NC 28315, the Sandhills Food Bank, 195 Sandy Avenue, Southern Pines NC 28387, the Raleigh Chapter of the NAACP, PO Box 25427, Raleigh NC 27611, or the FirstHealth Hospice Foundation, 150 Applecross Road, Southern Pines NC 28387.
Powell Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family.
Online condolences at www.PinesFunerals.com
Deepest sympathies to the entire family. Very sad news. Thinking of you all and remembering the old Pinehurst memories.
I only knew Tia to say hi and talk ‘animals’. She wrote brilliantly to our local paper on issues she felt strongly about and usually her mom was with her when I would see her. She was a beautiful soul and a beautiful lady. I am so sad that her days on ear
I was very saddened to hear of Tia’s passing.It was always a pleasure to see and talk to her and her mother. My deepest sympathy for the family at this most difficult time.
I will always remember Tia as a truly gentle soul, with a smile that melted hearts wherever she went.
Deepest sympathy to a family that has endured more than its share of loss.
We just heard about Tia’s passing. Jay and the staff offer our condolences.
Tia, my childhood friend, sorry we drifted apart…. life takes us in different directions but we shall all meet again.
TIA WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON. SHE WILL LIVE ON IN MANY OF US.
Pete and I are saddened by the news of Tia’s death. We have very fond memories of the wonderful dinners and conversations we shared with Tia and Joan here in Pinehurst. We especially enjoyed sharing sour mutual love of Quebec. Oyr heartfelt condolences to
I am so sorry for your loss. I find these scriptures to be of encouragement at a time like this. Isaiah 33:24, and 25:8. No More Sickness and Death. John 5:28,29. There Jesus promised the resurrection of the dead. When this promise is fulfilled, this enti
I was so sorry to hear of Tia’s passing. She was such a wonderful person and I was so glad to have spent time with her and Joan. We’re deeply honored that Tia shared her gifts for music and writing through the Southern Folklife Collection at UNC Chapel Hi
This is absolutely tragic news. I never met Tia but loved her voice and her interpretation of traditional songs and uploaded many of them to YouTube, where her work received a huge amount of praise, appreciation and love. Her gentle personality came acros
I also never met this woman but I was completely charmed by her music. God bless and protect her and all of her dearies.
Thank you God for the gifts of the beautiful people who share themselves with us. By and by we’ll meet again -RIP Tia and thank you for sharing x
I am so sorry Tia died before I had a chance to see her again. It has been many years since we saw each other or talked. she was friend when we were at Smith College. She is one of the few people who had left a mark on my life. I am sad at her death, but
I have just discovered Tia’s Music, she was a breath of fresh air.
My deepest sympathies to Tia’s family..
xx
So sad to hear this talented lady passed away. I only recently ‘discovered’ her music. Thoughts to her family and loved ones.
This evening I discovered her beautiful songs on YouTube. How sad that she has passed away. But in her music we Always will hear her beautiful voice, God bless all those who mourn.
I discovered Tia through Youtube and am saddened to learn that she is no longer with us. What is especially heartbreaking is the beautiful photo of her that I saw at Find A Grave. What a sweet and lovely lady. Her family must miss her.
For years I listen to Tia’s wonderful album, so sad to hear she passed away.
I just hope life gave her the peace harmony and beauty she gave us all by singing.
Ces quelques mots de reconnaissance et d’hommage Ă la plus belle, douce et profonde voix de femme chantĂ©e dans la musique folk. Reposez-en paix et merci Ă vous pour ces moments de joie Ă vous Ă©couter.
Ces quelques mots de reconnaissance et d’hommage Ă la belle, juste, douce et profonde voix chantĂ©e de Tia. Reposez en paix. Merci infiniment.
I first heard Tia’s “Rising of the Moon” only last month. This led me to her 1973 album, which just blew me away and finally to Granta and here. She was someone I wish I could have met. I wanted to add my voice to those who are enchanted by her music and give her the recognition her talent deserves.
I just found her music in spotify. These songs seem so sad. They meet my current state of mind. I hope she lives in a bright world now without sorrow and grieve. She left such a beautiful music. Thank you Tia. I am sad I can never watch you play and sing.
Thank you, Tia, for your life and songs!
Gad, Spotify is playing folk music and I twice questioned the smart speaker and twice it said, “Tia Blake.” So now I listen to her on Spotify, and subscribed to Granta to read what she wrote (I lived in Saigon when my father was Navy Chief in the early sixties, til he got cashiered for telling the Joint Chiefs that we were losing the war).
It’s hard to believe that her music career was so short! Such a great artist, such appeal, my relationship with her reminds me of ships crossing in the dark…. I live in Hilo, Hawaii now and get to see all sorts of artists, from great local ones like Hapa and Jake Shimabukuro to Judy Collins and Hot Tuna, playing the local small theaters, but I will never see Tia, and that’s a damn shame.
Thank you for leaving such a beautiful legacy.
Pat
i may be only young but i hope one day the melancholy of her songs will be that of my soul slipping away
It’s so sad to learn the owner of this beautiful voice passed away. Hope God bless her soul.
“There beside the singin’ river
That dark mass of men were seen
For above their shinin’ weapons
Hung their old, immortal dreams”
love you! we all miss you