Jackson photographer Howard Barron died at age 79 from a heart attack on Thanksgiving morning. His work with film photography and philanthropy touched many lives here in Jackson, where he lived for more than 40 years.
Before he retired into a life of photography, Barron was an electrical engineer for General Electric. He got his engineering degree from Christian Brothers College in Memphis. After serving in the Air Force in Alaska for three years, he moved to Jackson with his wife, Mary Ann, who passed away three months ago. He retired from General Electric at age 65.
Christina Cannon Boteler met Howard Barron at an art show at Cups Espresso Cafe in Fondren. Cannon was the district manager of the company at that time. She kept in contact with him over the years, becoming close to Barron as he taught her the ins and outs of the darkroom.
Photography was a lifelong hobby for Barron, and one that was purely a product of his passion. "He read a lot of books, and he never worked under a photographer," Boteler said.
The show in Fondren was one of his few. "He's always been very shy," Boteler said.
Barron wasn't flashy about his hobby, even though his work did find its way into people's lives.
"His work is hanging in many offices downtown and around the state," Boteler said.
His photographs were strictly traditional black-and-whites. He had a penchant for landscapes, as well as photographs of strangers he met on his travels around the South.
"He always loved to meet new people, so he's got boxes and boxes of photos of people from around Mississippi," Boteler said.
Barron also had a heart for philanthropy. Lizzie Cooper, a Jackson resident who distributes clothes and food to downtown families in need, as well as providing after school care and education, received a monthly donation from Barron for her work.
"She and Howard were just great friends," Boteler said.
Everyone who knew Barron was aware of this generous spirit. Once, he gave a homeless man a room in his house.
"Really and truly he was a people person. He would help anyone who came to him," Boteler said.
Barron is succeeded by his son John Barron, and his granddaughter Lyndsey Anne Terrabonne, who still lives in Jackson. View Barron's photography at hbarronphoto.com.
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