Jerry Landrum

Jerry Landrum, well-known portrait photographer of Florence, died May 12, 2005, at the age of 94. He operated Jerry's Studio for 53 years, retiring in 1980. He was the husband of the late Kathryn Landrum, his partner in photography and wife of 62 years. He was a member of the Florence Kiwanis for 54 years, past president of Florence Jaycees and past president of the Tri-Cities CB club. He attended Florence city schools, Trevecca College in Nashville and a graduate of Southern School of Photography in McMinnville, Tenn. He received his master's degree in photography in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1959.Jerry invented the Baby Panel Club and Children's Charm Portraits, and his ideas are used worldwide by other photographers. He was a pioneer radio broadcaster when in 1933, he installed and operated the first radio station in the Tri-Cities, now WLAY, where he was the first person to announce the bombing of Pearl Harbor in the Tri-Cities area.He introduced street photography to the Southeast in the late 1930s. In the early 1960s, he introduced Tiny Tot Portraits to kindergartens and nurseries in the South. The history of our area has been well preserved through historical photographs made by his father, G.W. Landrum in 1920, and continued through the years by Jerry. These photographs are the legacy of Jerry's family. He will be remembered as a photo-historian.Jerry served in the Coast Guard on the Tennessee River during World War II and also was progress photographer for Ingall's Shipbuilding Co., Decatur, Ala. In his career, he had the title Visitation will be 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Spry Serenity Chapel, Florence, with the service following at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Jim Warren officiating. Interment will be in Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens.He was preceded in death by one grandson, John M. Counts III He is survived by wife, Betty Landrum; two daughters, Patricia Counts and Lucretia Landrum; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Darti and Steve Eason; five grandchildren, Pam Smith, Laurie Hughey, Lisa Moses, Brad Darby amd Tina Squatrito; six great-grandchildren; four sisters, Kathy Luter, Catherine Montgomery, Wanda Fielder and Chris South, who were his special friends and gave him much happiness. Hospice of the Shoals also offered much comfort and care, and for this the family is grateful.Pallbearers are Ivan Stafford, Don Rohling, Hollis Wilson, John Harris, Roger Haddock and Steve Eason.Members of the Florence Kiwanis Club, along with Harold Hunt, will serve as honorary pallbearers.Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Shoals, 115 Fairground Road, Florence, AL 35630.Spry Serenity Chapel, Florence, is directing.