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James Patterson Obituary
Jackson - James C. Patterson was born on June 28, 1959 - a Sunday child full of grace - in Phoenix, Arizona, to T.A. and Christine Patterson. His family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where James attended Peeple's Junior High and Wingfield High School. He became interested in photography after being exposed to the photos taken by his grandparents of their many travels and he studied photography at Hinds Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He opened his own photography business shortly after graduating from USM and embarked on a career documenting Mississippi - mostly by taking photographs of its artists. Two of his favorite subjects were Eudora Welty and Willie Morris both of whom were friends. James was one of two photographers allowed to print Welty's own photographs and, in 1992, James collaborated on a Eudora Welty Portfolio produced by the Department of Archives and History and Diogenes Editions.
James' work was important to him but equally important were his friends. The pals he made in childhood he kept for life and every year he added more. After he was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2018 it became clear just exactly how many and how great were James' friends because the outpouring of love shown him in the last few months was unprecedented and brought him so much happiness. He was honored with a show of his portraits at the Mississippi Museum of Art in July 2018 and, in August, a concert at Duling Hall that reunited many of the musician friends who had made Jackson something of a musical mecca in the 1980s. This year James was selected to receive the 2019 Governor's Arts Award.
He is survived by his wife Jane Tucker; his siblings: Eve Clark, Mona Ramirez, Elizabeth Nemeth, Melissa Patterson, and Jason Patterson; his many nieces and nephews; his cousins Marilyn, Louis, Will, Katie and Thomas Fuselier; and many, many, many friends. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Joel Patterson.
He will be honored at a memorial on Nov 3, 2018 at Hal & Mal's at 6:00pm and will be buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Jackson, Mississippi.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Patterson
Sponsored by Natchez Trace Funeral Home Cemetery & Crematory.
Robert Mann
October 29, 2018
The Rainbow Bridge must have been wide open for you. Safe travels my ole friend.
Susan Jones
October 25, 2018
I will always remember living down street from you, James. May you RIP.
Shari Schneider
October 24, 2018
James and I worked on Wingfield High School's newspaper, "The Wingspread". I was a reporter, later Feature Editor, and James was the main photographer. He took pictures of all of the school's events, including each year's musical, such as "Li'l Abner" in 1974, "Hello, Dolly!" in 1975, and "George M.!" in 1976, part of his senior year. I was so proud of his work, and his shy but engaging personality and ready smile. He took a couple of pictures of our principal talking to two policemen in the hallway. The cops were called because one of our students rode his motorcycle in the halls during class! I begged our sponsor, Fred Crumpton to put it in the paper, but he said no. James, may you fly with the angels. God bless you. Shari Schneider
Steve Bradshaw
October 24, 2018
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Adam Freis
October 24, 2018
Thank you James, you taught me so much about both photography and being a good human being. You will be missed by many but the memories will all be of a geniune and wonderful soul.
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