James W. Alford, Jr. was born on March 9, 1922 and passed on July 27, 2015 at the age of 93. Jimmy Alford, owner of Jimmy Alford Studios and Alford Photo Industries, passed away peacefully with his family gathered around. Jimmy was born in Ripley, TN. He was a Navy Veteran and served in WWII on the USS Daly. After serving in the war, he began a Civil Service job in Hawaii and lived there for two years. He returned to Memphis and began photographic school at Woodard School of Photography. Soon after, he married Freda R. Alford and began a full-time career as a studio photographer at Bry’s Department Store in downtown Memphis. In 1964 he opened The Jimmy Alford Studios on N. Second St., dedicating most of his skills to family and baby portraits. In the early 1960’s the idea of school day portraits presented itself. Jimmy began diligently working as a pioneer for school day portraits with the Memphis City School Board. He indeed paved the way for school portraits in Memphis. Jimmy was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Ashton Alford and his sister, Dorothy Temple. He leaves his wife of 65 years, Freda Alford; sons, Wes (Tina), Steve (Amy) and Jody (Vickie); grandchildren, Anna and Wesley Alford; four extended grandchildren and five extended great grandchildren. A catered gathering of family and friends will be held on Thursday evening, July 30 from six o’clock to eight o’clock at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Ave. Services will be held on Friday afternoon, July 31 at two o’clock in the mausoleum chapel of Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Make a Wish Foundation.
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