John A. Works Jr.

Born 25 August 1944 in St. Paul, he was the first child of John A. Works, Sr. and Sarah Lorraine (Cumming) Works. He attended St. Paul Academy and Yale University graduating Cum Laude in 1966. He received his Masters and Doctorate in African History at The University of Wisconsin, Madison where he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship conducting his research in Paris and The Republic of Chad. In 1977 he became a founding faculty member of the University of Maiduguri in Borno State one of Nigeria’s premier universities. Upon returning to the United States he settled in the Central West End of St. Louis to become a tenured Associate Professor of African History at University of Missouri- St Louis where he retired in 1997.

John was a polyglot fluent in French and Hausa. He traveled widely during his Africa years in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Congo, Senegal, and Morocco where he became conversant in Arabic, Fulani, and Yoruba. While in Africa he completed a book PILGRIMS IN A STRANGE LAND published by Columbia University Press.

Keeping his home in St. Louis, John spent large amounts of time at his family farm in Northern Wisconsin. There he maintained 5 large garden plots and learned 2 new languages Italian and Turkish, and hosted numerous house parties at Brothers Lodge for his enormous number of friends from around the world. He became a highly skilled fisherman, chef, and raconteur. His social events, legendary!

When John joined Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Louis it was a game changer. His affiliation allowed him to return to Nigeria during sabbaticals, this time as a missionary serving in the troubled Zaria region torn by Christian/Islamic discontent. In 2010 he met and eventually married the love of his life Howard L. Logan who survives John, along with his bother and sister-in-law, Robert and Ann Works of Grand Cayman, his sister and brother-in-law Sarah and Andy Freeman of Mendota Heights, Minnesota and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

John’s sly wit, academic gifts, and global sense of style set him well apart. His family and friends remember him with love and vivid memories, and we wish him Godspeed on his next adventure!

A memorial service will be held January 25th 2020 at 10:00 at Trinity Episcopal Church 600 North Euclid St Louis MO. Memorials can be directed to Trinity Church or the charity of your choice.