Jim Jernigan, who ran an Ocala photography studio for more than 50 years, died Friday of natural causes. He was 88.
“His greatest joy was creating images and art for Ocala families,” said his son, photographer John Jernigan. “He took great pride and thought it was a genuine honor to be part of families’ events, creating the artistry of family portraits to go in their homes.”
Born in Clermont, Jim Jernigan spent most of his childhood in Ocala, said his son, Richard Jernigan. His interest in photography developed early, said David Cook, a high school classmate and former Star-Banner editor, who remembered Jernigan taking and selling photographs as a teenager. He won a photography award in school as well.
Jernigan continued his education at the University of Florida, and then spent two years in the Navy, before returning to his hometown. In 1946 he opened Jim Jernigan’s Studio in downtown Ocala, just off the square. In the ‘60s, he moved the business to its current location on East Silver Springs Boulevard. Although retired two years, he continued to stop by the studio daily until this summer, his sons said.
“There’s not many people who went from black and white to color to digital in their lifetime,” John Jernigan said of his father’s lengthy career. “He loved his career, and he was passionate about professional photography.”
Remembering frequent trips to the studio with his father, John Jernigan said he felt as though he had grown up in the studio. His brother said that all three of the siblings -- Richard, John and a sister, Jan -- had worked for their father at some point. John Jernigan runs the family business today.
In his own career and when giving advice to up-and-coming photographers, John Jernigan said he draws on the lessons his father taught him about putting his subjects at ease through conversation. “He would just make a connection with that family or that individual he was photographing,” he said. “He genuinely was interested in everything these people did.”
“He never met a stranger,” Richard Jernigan added.
These qualities helped make him Ocala’s go-to local photographer for decades, said Hugh Dailey, who first met Jernigan in his photography studio as a first-grader, and later worked with him through the Community Bank and Trust of Florida, where Jernigan was on the board of directors. But Jernigan’s reputation spread further than Ocala, Dailey added. At various points he served as president of the Florida Professional Photographers and a board member for the Professional Photographers of America; Dailey said often out-of-town photographers he spoke with recognized Jernigan’s name.
“You could not find better portrait photographer than he was,” said Cook, who worked with Jernigan in the ‘50s, when Jernigan worked as a freelance photographer for the Star-Banner in addition to running his studio. “He was the community’s premier photographer.”
Jernigan was a strong presence in his community even when not behind the lens of a camera. He spent more than 50 years with the Kiwanis Club of Ocala; served on the original board of the Appleton Museum of Art; and helped establish the Community Bank and Trust of Florida in 1988, serving on its board of directors for nearly 18 years.
Dailey, president of the Community Bank, said the bank sought out Jernigan for its board. As a successful local businessman, Jernigan had business experience and ties to the community. “He was one of the first people we went to,” Jernigan said, adding that Jernigan proved to be a “phenomenal” bank director.
In addition to his three children, Jernigan is also survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Contact Nicki Gorny at 352-867-4065, [email protected] or @Nicki_Gorny.
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James R. Jernigan, age 88, of Ocala, Florida passed away peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2015. Jim was born in Clermont, Florida on November 16, 1926. During his high school years, Jim received 14 awards for playing the trumpet both on the district and state levels. After graduating from Ocala High School, Jim attended the University of Florida before joining the Navy. He returned to Ocala where he met his wife Betty. They were married 68 years. Jim owned and operated Jim Jernigan’s Studio in Ocala for 69 years. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church. His community involvement included being on the board of directors of Community Bank and Trust of Ocala, Past President of the Southeastern Professional Photographers, Florida Professional Photographers and serving 6 years as a board of director of the Professional Photographers of America. Jim was one of the original board members that founded the Appleton Museum of Art and was the oldest active member of the Kiwanis Club of Ocala. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, tennis and golf but his greatest Joy in life was creating artistic portraits of Ocala area families.
He is survived by his wife Betty Jernigan of Ocala, sons Richard (Sharon) Jernigan, John (Sheila) Jernigan and daughter Jan (Al) Jernigan-Chapman, niece LuAnne Gay, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren all of Ocala, Florida.
A memorial service will be held Thursday September 24th, 2015 at 11:00 at the First United Methodist Church Ocala with Reverend Allen Johnson and Dr. John Few officiating. Family will receive friends following the service in the Family Life Center.
In lieu of flowers a donations can be made to First United Methodist Children’s Home or Interfaith Emergency Services of Ocala.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hiers-baxley.com.
“His greatest joy was creating images and art for Ocala families,” said his son, photographer John Jernigan. “He took great pride and thought it was a genuine honor to be part of families’ events, creating the artistry of family portraits to go in their homes.”
Born in Clermont, Jim Jernigan spent most of his childhood in Ocala, said his son, Richard Jernigan. His interest in photography developed early, said David Cook, a high school classmate and former Star-Banner editor, who remembered Jernigan taking and selling photographs as a teenager. He won a photography award in school as well.
Jernigan continued his education at the University of Florida, and then spent two years in the Navy, before returning to his hometown. In 1946 he opened Jim Jernigan’s Studio in downtown Ocala, just off the square. In the ‘60s, he moved the business to its current location on East Silver Springs Boulevard. Although retired two years, he continued to stop by the studio daily until this summer, his sons said.
“There’s not many people who went from black and white to color to digital in their lifetime,” John Jernigan said of his father’s lengthy career. “He loved his career, and he was passionate about professional photography.”
Remembering frequent trips to the studio with his father, John Jernigan said he felt as though he had grown up in the studio. His brother said that all three of the siblings -- Richard, John and a sister, Jan -- had worked for their father at some point. John Jernigan runs the family business today.
In his own career and when giving advice to up-and-coming photographers, John Jernigan said he draws on the lessons his father taught him about putting his subjects at ease through conversation. “He would just make a connection with that family or that individual he was photographing,” he said. “He genuinely was interested in everything these people did.”
“He never met a stranger,” Richard Jernigan added.
These qualities helped make him Ocala’s go-to local photographer for decades, said Hugh Dailey, who first met Jernigan in his photography studio as a first-grader, and later worked with him through the Community Bank and Trust of Florida, where Jernigan was on the board of directors. But Jernigan’s reputation spread further than Ocala, Dailey added. At various points he served as president of the Florida Professional Photographers and a board member for the Professional Photographers of America; Dailey said often out-of-town photographers he spoke with recognized Jernigan’s name.
“You could not find better portrait photographer than he was,” said Cook, who worked with Jernigan in the ‘50s, when Jernigan worked as a freelance photographer for the Star-Banner in addition to running his studio. “He was the community’s premier photographer.”
Jernigan was a strong presence in his community even when not behind the lens of a camera. He spent more than 50 years with the Kiwanis Club of Ocala; served on the original board of the Appleton Museum of Art; and helped establish the Community Bank and Trust of Florida in 1988, serving on its board of directors for nearly 18 years.
Dailey, president of the Community Bank, said the bank sought out Jernigan for its board. As a successful local businessman, Jernigan had business experience and ties to the community. “He was one of the first people we went to,” Jernigan said, adding that Jernigan proved to be a “phenomenal” bank director.
In addition to his three children, Jernigan is also survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Contact Nicki Gorny at 352-867-4065, [email protected] or @Nicki_Gorny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James R. Jernigan, age 88, of Ocala, Florida passed away peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2015. Jim was born in Clermont, Florida on November 16, 1926. During his high school years, Jim received 14 awards for playing the trumpet both on the district and state levels. After graduating from Ocala High School, Jim attended the University of Florida before joining the Navy. He returned to Ocala where he met his wife Betty. They were married 68 years. Jim owned and operated Jim Jernigan’s Studio in Ocala for 69 years. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church. His community involvement included being on the board of directors of Community Bank and Trust of Ocala, Past President of the Southeastern Professional Photographers, Florida Professional Photographers and serving 6 years as a board of director of the Professional Photographers of America. Jim was one of the original board members that founded the Appleton Museum of Art and was the oldest active member of the Kiwanis Club of Ocala. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, tennis and golf but his greatest Joy in life was creating artistic portraits of Ocala area families.
He is survived by his wife Betty Jernigan of Ocala, sons Richard (Sharon) Jernigan, John (Sheila) Jernigan and daughter Jan (Al) Jernigan-Chapman, niece LuAnne Gay, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren all of Ocala, Florida.
A memorial service will be held Thursday September 24th, 2015 at 11:00 at the First United Methodist Church Ocala with Reverend Allen Johnson and Dr. John Few officiating. Family will receive friends following the service in the Family Life Center.
In lieu of flowers a donations can be made to First United Methodist Children’s Home or Interfaith Emergency Services of Ocala.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hiers-baxley.com.
Jim Jernigan, who ran an Ocala photography studio for more than 50 years, died Friday of natural causes. He was 88.
“His greatest joy was creating images and art for Ocala families,” said his son, photographer John Jernigan. “He took great pride and thought it was a genuine honor to be part of families’ events, creating the artistry of family portraits to go in their homes.”
Born in Clermont, Jim Jernigan spent most of his childhood in Ocala, said his son, Richard Jernigan. His interest in photography developed early, said David Cook, a high school classmate and former Star-Banner editor, who remembered Jernigan taking and selling photographs as a teenager. He won a photography award in school as well.
Jernigan continued his education at the University of Florida, and then spent two years in the Navy, before returning to his hometown. In 1946 he opened Jim Jernigan’s Studio in downtown Ocala, just off the square. In the ‘60s, he moved the business to its current location on East Silver Springs Boulevard. Although retired two years, he continued to stop by the studio daily until this summer, his sons said.
“There’s not many people who went from black and white to color to digital in their lifetime,” John Jernigan said of his father’s lengthy career. “He loved his career, and he was passionate about professional photography.”
Remembering frequent trips to the studio with his father, John Jernigan said he felt as though he had grown up in the studio. His brother said that all three of the siblings -- Richard, John and a sister, Jan -- had worked for their father at some point. John Jernigan runs the family business today.
In his own career and when giving advice to up-and-coming photographers, John Jernigan said he draws on the lessons his father taught him about putting his subjects at ease through conversation. “He would just make a connection with that family or that individual he was photographing,” he said. “He genuinely was interested in everything these people did.”
“He never met a stranger,” Richard Jernigan added.
These qualities helped make him Ocala’s go-to local photographer for decades, said Hugh Dailey, who first met Jernigan in his photography studio as a first-grader, and later worked with him through the Community Bank and Trust of Florida, where Jernigan was on the board of directors. But Jernigan’s reputation spread further than Ocala, Dailey added. At various points he served as president of the Florida Professional Photographers and a board member for the Professional Photographers of America; Dailey said often out-of-town photographers he spoke with recognized Jernigan’s name.
“You could not find better portrait photographer than he was,” said Cook, who worked with Jernigan in the ‘50s, when Jernigan worked as a freelance photographer for the Star-Banner in addition to running his studio. “He was the community’s premier photographer.”
Jernigan was a strong presence in his community even when not behind the lens of a camera. He spent more than 50 years with the Kiwanis Club of Ocala; served on the original board of the Appleton Museum of Art; and helped establish the Community Bank and Trust of Florida in 1988, serving on its board of directors for nearly 18 years.
Dailey, president of the Community Bank, said the bank sought out Jernigan for its board. As a successful local businessman, Jernigan had business experience and ties to the community. “He was one of the first people we went to,” Jernigan said, adding that Jernigan proved to be a “phenomenal” bank director.
In addition to his three children, Jernigan is also survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Contact Nicki Gorny at 352-867-4065, [email protected] or @Nicki_Gorny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James R. Jernigan, age 88, of Ocala, Florida passed away peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2015. Jim was born in Clermont, Florida on November 16, 1926. During his high school years, Jim received 14 awards for playing the trumpet both on the district and state levels. After graduating from Ocala High School, Jim attended the University of Florida before joining the Navy. He returned to Ocala where he met his wife Betty. They were married 68 years. Jim owned and operated Jim Jernigan’s Studio in Ocala for 69 years. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church. His community involvement included being on the board of directors of Community Bank and Trust of Ocala, Past President of the Southeastern Professional Photographers, Florida Professional Photographers and serving 6 years as a board of director of the Professional Photographers of America. Jim was one of the original board members that founded the Appleton Museum of Art and was the oldest active member of the Kiwanis Club of Ocala. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, tennis and golf but his greatest Joy in life was creating artistic portraits of Ocala area families.
He is survived by his wife Betty Jernigan of Ocala, sons Richard (Sharon) Jernigan, John (Sheila) Jernigan and daughter Jan (Al) Jernigan-Chapman, niece LuAnne Gay, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren all of Ocala, Florida.
A memorial service will be held Thursday September 24th, 2015 at 11:00 at the First United Methodist Church Ocala with Reverend Allen Johnson and Dr. John Few officiating. Family will receive friends following the service in the Family Life Center.
In lieu of flowers a donations can be made to First United Methodist Children’s Home or Interfaith Emergency Services of Ocala.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hiers-baxley.com.
“His greatest joy was creating images and art for Ocala families,” said his son, photographer John Jernigan. “He took great pride and thought it was a genuine honor to be part of families’ events, creating the artistry of family portraits to go in their homes.”
Born in Clermont, Jim Jernigan spent most of his childhood in Ocala, said his son, Richard Jernigan. His interest in photography developed early, said David Cook, a high school classmate and former Star-Banner editor, who remembered Jernigan taking and selling photographs as a teenager. He won a photography award in school as well.
Jernigan continued his education at the University of Florida, and then spent two years in the Navy, before returning to his hometown. In 1946 he opened Jim Jernigan’s Studio in downtown Ocala, just off the square. In the ‘60s, he moved the business to its current location on East Silver Springs Boulevard. Although retired two years, he continued to stop by the studio daily until this summer, his sons said.
“There’s not many people who went from black and white to color to digital in their lifetime,” John Jernigan said of his father’s lengthy career. “He loved his career, and he was passionate about professional photography.”
Remembering frequent trips to the studio with his father, John Jernigan said he felt as though he had grown up in the studio. His brother said that all three of the siblings -- Richard, John and a sister, Jan -- had worked for their father at some point. John Jernigan runs the family business today.
In his own career and when giving advice to up-and-coming photographers, John Jernigan said he draws on the lessons his father taught him about putting his subjects at ease through conversation. “He would just make a connection with that family or that individual he was photographing,” he said. “He genuinely was interested in everything these people did.”
“He never met a stranger,” Richard Jernigan added.
These qualities helped make him Ocala’s go-to local photographer for decades, said Hugh Dailey, who first met Jernigan in his photography studio as a first-grader, and later worked with him through the Community Bank and Trust of Florida, where Jernigan was on the board of directors. But Jernigan’s reputation spread further than Ocala, Dailey added. At various points he served as president of the Florida Professional Photographers and a board member for the Professional Photographers of America; Dailey said often out-of-town photographers he spoke with recognized Jernigan’s name.
“You could not find better portrait photographer than he was,” said Cook, who worked with Jernigan in the ‘50s, when Jernigan worked as a freelance photographer for the Star-Banner in addition to running his studio. “He was the community’s premier photographer.”
Jernigan was a strong presence in his community even when not behind the lens of a camera. He spent more than 50 years with the Kiwanis Club of Ocala; served on the original board of the Appleton Museum of Art; and helped establish the Community Bank and Trust of Florida in 1988, serving on its board of directors for nearly 18 years.
Dailey, president of the Community Bank, said the bank sought out Jernigan for its board. As a successful local businessman, Jernigan had business experience and ties to the community. “He was one of the first people we went to,” Jernigan said, adding that Jernigan proved to be a “phenomenal” bank director.
In addition to his three children, Jernigan is also survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Contact Nicki Gorny at 352-867-4065, [email protected] or @Nicki_Gorny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James R. Jernigan, age 88, of Ocala, Florida passed away peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2015. Jim was born in Clermont, Florida on November 16, 1926. During his high school years, Jim received 14 awards for playing the trumpet both on the district and state levels. After graduating from Ocala High School, Jim attended the University of Florida before joining the Navy. He returned to Ocala where he met his wife Betty. They were married 68 years. Jim owned and operated Jim Jernigan’s Studio in Ocala for 69 years. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church. His community involvement included being on the board of directors of Community Bank and Trust of Ocala, Past President of the Southeastern Professional Photographers, Florida Professional Photographers and serving 6 years as a board of director of the Professional Photographers of America. Jim was one of the original board members that founded the Appleton Museum of Art and was the oldest active member of the Kiwanis Club of Ocala. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, tennis and golf but his greatest Joy in life was creating artistic portraits of Ocala area families.
He is survived by his wife Betty Jernigan of Ocala, sons Richard (Sharon) Jernigan, John (Sheila) Jernigan and daughter Jan (Al) Jernigan-Chapman, niece LuAnne Gay, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren all of Ocala, Florida.
A memorial service will be held Thursday September 24th, 2015 at 11:00 at the First United Methodist Church Ocala with Reverend Allen Johnson and Dr. John Few officiating. Family will receive friends following the service in the Family Life Center.
In lieu of flowers a donations can be made to First United Methodist Children’s Home or Interfaith Emergency Services of Ocala.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hiers-baxley.com.
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