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On January 12, 1955, in the town of Port Arthur, Texas,
a second son was born to Gloria and Alfred St. Mary. His Aunt
Dorothy was given naming rights and chose Jeffery Lynn. Jeffrey
Lynn was christened at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Port Arthur,
Texas. He later strengthened his faith by making his first communion
and confirmation at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Houston,
Texas.
Jeffery attended B. H. Grimes Elementary, Carter G. Woodson
Middle School and graduated from Ross Sterling Senior High School..
He was a member of the Woodson and Ross Sterling marching bands
where he played the clarinet. Jeffery introduced his own style
by adding a soulful step while marching, for which the band director
disciplined him. During his spare time, Jeff (a.k.a. "Hawk")
would soup up his car and drag race with his friends. Upon entering
adulthood, Jeffery attended San Jacinto Jr. College where he
studied computer science. During his college years Jeff utilized
his love for automobiles to start a car repair venture.
In 1974, Jeff started working at Quantum Chemical, now EquiStar,
in the transfer department as a controller and process trainer
for fifteen years. During this period, he discovered a love and
talent for photography that was inspired by his Uncle Abraham.
He borrowed his uncle's cameras, began reading about photography
and converted one of the spare rooms in his house to a darkroom.
Through study and experimentation, he perfected his craft. In
1981, Jeffery started documenting the Ensemble Theatre's productions
and maintained the theater's photo archive for 20 years. Being
a free spirit and relying on faith, he plunged into entrepreneurship
and opened St. Mary's Photography Studio in 1990 in Missouri
City, Texas, operating it for I I years. During those years Jeff
s photographic artistry brought him numerous portraiture, commercial
and still photography assignments. It is through this work Jeffery's
legacy will live on in the hearts of many Missouri City and Houston
residents. He was proud of the many art exhibits that displayed
his photography as well as the countless publications, including
books that contain his artful work.
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Jeffery moved to the US Virgin Islands in March 2001
to work for Jacob's Engineering, a major subcontractor at the
Hovensa Chemical Plant. Part time, he worked on photography assignments
for local merchants and was recently offered a weekend position
as photographer with an island newspaper, the St. Croix Avis.
During Jeffery's short residency, he fostered many strong friendships
with coworkers and locals. Together they shared a parting phrase
about the island "one heart, one love, you got to have a
heart to love".
As a credit to his accomplishments, he served as a board member
of the Houston Center for Photography and the Fort Bend Chamber
of Commerce. He was an advisor to the Council for the School
of Technology at Texas Southern University. Jeffery also served
on the marketing committee at the Ensemble Theatre.
Jeffery married his high school girlfriend in April of 1975,
Felecia Gayle Thompson and to this union, a beautiftil baby girl
was bom whom they named Jamie Lynn.
Jeffery later met Winifred Sowell in the early eighties while
photographing plays at the Ensemble Theatre They married in March
of 1988. To this union, a handsome baby boy was bom whom they
named Jonathan Lynn.
He will be most remembered for being very diplomatic and always
a gentleman. He will be most missed for his gift of capturing
the essence of the people he photographed. Jeff was fascinated
with life and eager to share his insights. Known for his big
heart, Jeff was always helping people and often brought home
stray dogs.
Jeffery will be cherished by many childhood friends, friends
that were like brothers and sisters, and various people from
all walks of life. Last but not least, he will be missed by friends
in St. Croix that love and appreciate him as much as we do.
You could often find Jeff catching the sunrise accompanied
by a cup of coffee and if you were looking for him, you could
find him by his trail of coffee spills. And so, to find him,
look for the coffee spills leading to the sunrise.
Jeffery Lynn St. Mary leaves to cherish his memories a daughter,
Jamie Lynn; a son, Jonathan Lynn; a grandson Jordan; parents,
Alfred and Gloria St. Mary; a brother H. Anthony and sister-in-law
Doris St. Mary, a niece Sirena Davis, along with numerous aunts,
uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
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