“George was my friend, an outstanding bridge player and photographer. As a friend Trevor was generous, as a photographer he was generous, and as a bridge player he was generous with his doubles,” Rex James told the congregation as he gave tribute on behalf of the Jamaica Bridge Association at the thanksgiving service for the late George Edward Trevor Jones at the St Luke’s Anglican Church on Friday, January 5.

“He was an avid and enthusiastic member of the Jamaica Bridge Association for over 50 years. He was almost always the first to arrive for Monday and Wednesday tournaments. He was a stickler for time, order and discipline,” James continued, and the crowd nodded in approval.

Even when he was ill, Jones still played his favourite game, never complaining that he was not well. His friends noticed his discomfort and expressed concern about his breathing, but he was adamant about finishing his game, and refused to let anyone drive him home.

James spoke with his dear friend on Wednesday before his death, not knowing that it would be the last time they would speak about going to a bridge tournament.

Jones’s generosity flowed over into the church, as he became the church’s photographer at no cost. Not only that, but the church also benefited from the proceeds of Jones’s photograph sales.

He was a very active man with a wide range of interests. This led to a fun-filled childhood for his children. “I recall hearing stories of crabbing. In fact, in the earlier years, he used to teach us how to hold the crabs so the claws wouldn’t bite you. Daddy dabbled in photography, magic, boxing, track & field, chess and a number of other things,” Jones’s son Mark shared as he delivered the remembrance.

When Jones was not doing these things, he was telling his children childhood stories about his mother, her kitchen skills and her dinner parties.

“Mama, daddy’s mother, was a marvel in the kitchen and a great baker. And he would talk about how he rued the day his mother got a spatula. You see, as children you would use your finger to wipe the batter out of the tub before you put it in the baking tin. That was his favourite pastime too, except the spatula doesn’t allow much to be left behind,” Mark shared with a smile on his face.

Mark described how many people saw his father as miserable and strict. However, he saw it as his commitment to excellence. The same excellence he displayed when taking pictures. “He would not allow persons to move while he was taking his photos, and everybody had to be smiling. He didn’t care if he had to take over the photos ten times. He had to get it right,” he said.

James’ best memory of Jones as a photographer was when both men celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries. “I had the pleasure of celebrating with Joy and himself for their 50th wedding anniversary, and in turn they celebrated with my wife and me at our 50th anniversary. On that occasion, he appointed himself chief photographer. He took several pictures of all our family members, and created an album of the event, a gift we will always treasure.”

According to James, Jones will be forever remembered through the many photographs he left behind that captured treasured moments.