1/11/19 – 5:33 A.M.

McComb residents continue to mourn the loss of a well-known artist and voice in the community. Silvio Jimenez died in a car accident last Sunday, three days before his 46th birthday. Jimenez was renowned for his murals, which you can see on buildings in downtown McComb, the high school, and beyond.

Jimenez opened his studio to area children so they could learn about art. He was also part of the village’s “Heart and Soul” team. The group aimed to revitalize and build the community. Heart and Soul Project Coordinator Joe Wasson said “I knew he was something special.” when he met Jimenez.

Jimenez painted a mural in the McComb Public Library in 2009. At the height of the economic downturn, he offered to do it for only the cost of the paint. He also painted a large panther mural on the side of Primrose Flowers and Gifts on Main Street last fall.

MORE: Many more in the McComb community have fond memories of Jimenez