Clyde Jones, a leading photojournalist whose camera took him to most landmarks in New York and key economic diplomatic and social events and institutions in the United States and Barbados died in hospital today after a prolonged illness.
Jones was in his late 80s.
Thelma, his wife of more than 50 years said: “He passed away in Mount Sinai Hospital in Brooklyn. Clyde was truly an outstanding person who loved his country and is going to be mourned by many people knew and admired him. He is going to be missed.”
Christopher Bennett, Jones’ 20-year-old son, a Brooklyn student, said his father was “very supportive of his dreams and aspirations and “was always there for me”.
Barbados’ Consul General in New York Mackie Holder said: “Clyde was a stalwart, a pillar of the Barbadian community in New York and elsewhere. He was irrepressible and was everywhere and was present at anything to do with Barbados. He did a tremendous amount of work to publicise Barbadian events and kept Bajans well informed. He was always fully supportive of the Barbados Consulate-General.
“He was known for his high quality photographs, enthusiastic interest in every aspect of Barbados’ development and for the way he carried himself in his personal life,” said Noel Lynch, Barbados Ambassador to the US and the OAS in Washington. “I would describe him as an institution. When I was involved in the management and policy-making of our tourism industry across the Caribbean, Clyde was always there with his camera at every Caribbean tourism conference. He is going to be sorely missed.”
Dr Christopher Hackett, who served longer than anyone else as Barbados’ Ambassador to the UN, holding the position from 2004 until 2010 said: “I have known Clyde for at least 40 years and a quality which stood out was his deep interest in our country. Another fine aspect of his story was his knowledge of protocol and what was or wasn’t appropriate, even to the point at which he would advised on how the Barbados flag should be carried. We knew he was ill and we spoke on several recent occasions. Still, his death has come as a shock. He was always friendly and keen on economic and social developments in our country.”
Jones also contributed to the Barbados Advocate for about 20 years and the Nation newspapers for at least a quarter of a century.
He was also known to many parliamentarians, sports figures and cultural figures and published some of his work in a book, entitled The Man And His Camera.