THEATRE stalwart and media personality Fae Ellington describes late cinematographer Franklyn “Chappie” St Juste as a man with a “wicked sense of humour”.

“He had such a quick wit that if you weren’t listening keenly, you would miss the humour. He was that quick,” Ellington chuckled.

“He could also hold a discussion on any topic… and had a great command of the English language,” she continued.

St Juste, whose credits include movies like The Harder They Come and Children of Babylon, as well as The Cool Boys and Coolie Pink and Green, died on November 5 at the University Hospital of the West Indies of complications from cancer. He was 89.

Ellington said she met St Juste in 1973 after joining the Jamaican Folk Singers.

“Chappie did the (theatrical) lighting for the Jamaican Folk Singers. We had tours of the United States and Europe; we went to Chicago, Wales and Germany, so I got to know him very well,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

According to Ellington, her association with the ‘Singers’ lasted one year. However, her and St Juste’s paths would again cross on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies.

“I began teaching at UWI in 1985 and he was already established there. We had a fine relationship,” said Ellington.

St Juste’s tenure at The University of the West Indies lasted for more than two decades as a lecturer in television production at what became the Caribbean School of Media and Communications (CARIMAC). He played a major role in the development of lighting, film and television professionals, not only in Jamaica, but across the Caribbean. He also worked extensively with the School of Drama at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts. At the time of his passing, he was leading a process to repatriate Jamaican films found in databases overseas.

“Chappie a one serious smaddy and great Caribbean man,” said Ellington. “The last time I saw him he was in hospital and was in great spirit,” she said.

The funeral for Franklyn “Chappie” St Juste is scheduled for the University Chapel, on the Mona campus in Kingston on Monday, November 25. It is slated for a 2:00 pm start.

Franklyn “Chappie” St Juste is survived by children Brian, Francois and Maya.