James A. Vines Jr.

Jimmy met and married the love of his life, Patricia Maureen Woodruff Vines (Maureen) in Columbus, GA at Sherwood Methodist Church where he was choir director. They were together for over 54 years living in Columbus, New Smyrna Beach, FL and Seminole, Florida.

He’s survived by his wife Maureen, daughters Lisa Weir Vines, her wife Kim McLeod Weir Vines and Andrea Renee Vines Marks, and grandsons Justin Aubrey Shrock and Conner Eugene Marks.

A graduate of the Opelika High School class of 1951, he received plenty of practice for what would become his life’s work, by playing trumpet in the high school band and was a baritone soloist in Opelika’s chorus. He was a professional soloist singing at countless weddings and churches in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

He attended Auburn University, where he became an official WAR EAGLE. He graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree, as well as receiving his Masters in Choral Conducting from the University of South Florida in 1972.

Jimmy was a choir director in the United Methodist church for over 30 years and taught public school for 42 years. During his teaching career, he directed choral programs at New Smyrna Beach Junior and Senior High Schools for five years. Jimmy was at Seminole High School for a total of 34 years, where he directed choral programs for 12 and taught Biology for 22.

To the outsider, he was a teacher. However, to his students he was something far more special. He was a life coach.

Each of Seminole High’s choral groups, Concert Choir, Girls Chorus and Seminole Singers were multi award winners at the annual Florida Vocal Association district and state festivals. In addition to group entries, Jimmy encouraged individual students to pursue Festival awards in student conducting, piano solo and vocal solo performances.

To put it simply, Jimmy Vines put small town Seminole’s choral department on a very big map.

Many former students have expressed that he was a father figure when they hadn’t a father to turn to at home. He encouraged them, pushed them and showed them that they could achieve great things, that they could pursue adult goals with courage and come out the other side victorious. Whether it was obtaining a new job, applying for a mortgage, traveling to new and interesting lands they had the confidence to persevere, because back in school Mr. Vines believed in them.

He had a great love of history which ranged from The Civil War, collecting vintage fountain pens, studying and charting family genealogy, calligraphy and was a charter member and historian for the Seminole Historical Society. One of his proudest moments and greatest achievements was bringing the history back to Seminole through all of his work and research at the Seminole Historical Society and the opening of the Seminole Museum. “For 15 years, I have done research and given presentations about the pioneers of Seminole. I have told their story!”

When Lisa and Renee were young girls, he and Maureen loved being on their boat, ReMaJiLi, cruising and camping on the St. Johns River, the Suwannee River and the Pinellas County Intracoastal Waterway. When not on the ReMaJiLi, they loved camping all over Florida, tubing down rivers, especially Weeki Wachee Springs. “Keep the Faith, Keep Singing, Keep Smiling, "Pass it on" Jimmy Vines