In Memory Of Jeff Driggers

Corlis J. (Jeff) Driggers 

The Jacksonville musical and library community has lost a true patron and friend.  Jeff Driggers was born on November 29, 1924, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  He passed away in Jacksonville, FL, November 11, 2013.  

Mr. Driggers joined the Army in 1943 at Camp Blanding, FL. 

After the Army, he graduated from the University of Florida with both B.A. and M.A. degrees in psychology, and is remembered as one who liked to know what made people tick.  He then earned a B.M. degree from the Eastman School of Music, and an M.M. from FSU, and later earned a third master's degree from Indiana University in Library Science.   It was FSU, though, that  turned him into a forever Seminole fan.  

Mr. Driggers' library career began in 1957 as a clerk in JPL's Catalog Department in the first Main Library (now known as the Bedell Building).  With the opening of the Haydon Burns Library on Ocean Street in 1965, he became the head of the Art and Music Department where he strove for excellence in the reference collection.  His lifelong love of cinema led him to oversee the finest 16mm film collection in the state.  Mr. Driggers was a supporter of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and he participated in many musical related activities.  His real love, however, was the Delius Society where he was a world-recognized expert on the music of Frederick Delius.  Staff regretfully held a retirement party for him, August 1, 1991; however, after that Mr. Driggers spent some time every week as curator of the library's Delius Collection.  

"Mr. D" (as he was affectionately known) was admired by everyone who ever worked for or with him.  He was a mentor and friend to many and will be sincerely missed.

Our appreciation to Carol Smith, a former JPL staff member, who worked for Mr. D for about 17 years, for most of the input here and to Main Librarian Ed Lein and Library Assistant Arthur Finley for their contributions to this memorial for "Mr. D".