Lynn Jeffries Binford, Jr. was born on April 13, 1955 to Lynn Jeffries Binford, Sr. and Mary Jewel (Barden) Binford and grew up on the family farm near Nutbush, TN. He died June 23, 2026 at Hospice of West Alabama after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

At an early age, Jeff was introduced to music through a babysitter who suggested he play a small electric toy organ. She soon realized Jeff had begun playing tunes, having no previous training. A couple of hours later, his parents returned to find Jeff totally immersed in playing music from the toy organ. Shortly thereafter, he started piano lessons with a local teacher who convinced his parents of his incredible talent. From the age of 12, he was employed as an organist and church musician in answer to God’s call to music ministry.

Jeff received the Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. His organ professors included Helen Trotter Midkiff, Dr. Donald McDonald, Dr. George Markey, Harald Vogel, and internationally-known concert organist Virgil Fox. Additionally, Jeff studied in France with Marie-Louise Langlais of the Paris Conservatoire.

Throughout his 50+ year career, Jeff served churches in Tennessee, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Alabama as organist or organist/choirmaster. Among these churches were First Baptist Church in Dalton, GA, Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN, and Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX. His final call was at First Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa, AL from which he retired as organist emeritus after 20 years of service in 2021. During his time at FPC Tuscaloosa, he twice was appointed interim director of music where he both accompanied and directed all choirs and musical ensembles.

Throughout his career, Jeff played an active role in planning music for worship services, weddings, funerals, and concerts. Jeff’s encyclopedic knowledge of classical organ and choral repertoire, traditional church anthems, and hymns made him an asset to the congregations he served beyond his skills as an organist. He had an incredible knack for choosing service music that perfectly paired with scripture readings, prayers, and sermon topics, and enhanced the worship experience for the congregation. Jeff was known particularly for his improvisation skills, especially as he led the congregation on a beautiful musical journey from the choral anthem (composed anywhere between the Middle Ages and current day) to the doxology (hymn tune: Old Hundredth). When asked about these improvisations after services, he would invariably say, “I have no idea what I played. It was just the Holy Spirit.”

He wrote reviews and articles for the two major American organ publications, The American Organist and The Diapason. Fluent in French, Jeff also appeared in a video series made in Paris that provided information about famous French organists, composers, and churches. Jeff played recitals throughout Europe in places such as Sainte-Clotilde church in Paris, the cathedral in Albi, France, the cathedral in Aix-en-Provence, as well as J. S. Bach’s church in Leipzig, Germany, the Kaiser Wilhelm Church in Berlin, Saint Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, and various other venues in England, Scotland, Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Along with other friends, Jeff played a recital on the largest pipe organ in the world at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Perhaps Jeff’s most enduring legacy is the pipe organ at First Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa (Orgues Létourneau, Opus 129). In his role as FPC Tuscaloosa’s organ consultant, Jeff collaborated with Orgues Létourneau’s Andrew Forrest to create a new brilliantly-designed 75-rank organ, which combined the church’s previous Casavant pipe organ, a 1921 E.M. Skinner pipe organ, and new additions from Orgues Létourneau into an instrument which the company frequently shows to prospective clients from all over the country. When asked about the capabilities of the new instrument, Jeff commented, “There is not a piece of organ or choral repertoire in the world that this organ will not play.” The church named both the organ and an annual organ recital series in Jeff’s honor.

After moving to town, Jeff discovered a natural talent for acting as a part of several productions with Theatre Tuscaloosa, playing Max in The Sound of Music, Mayor Shinn in The Music Man, Jacob in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Norval in Dearly Departed. Perhaps his favorite role, also in Dearly Departed, was completely improvised — Merline (the funeral home organist) — which according to director Tina Turley, “made the show.” Jeff often entertained friends with stories he would write about his childhood in Nutbush, and inspired the church staff and others with the devotionals he penned. He loved his beautiful home on Signal Hill Circle and anything to do with Colonial Williamsburg or Queen Elizabeth II.

Jeff is survived by his cousins: Jim Frazier, of Lafayette, Louisiana; Miles Morris of Somerville, TN; and Marlane Crowell and Benita Pepper of Lakeland, TN. As an only child, Jeff’s friends and neighbors in each of the communities he served became like family and are too numerous to mention. All who love Jeff are incredibly grateful for the wonderful, loving care he received at Capstone Village Traditions Way unit, Heritage Healthcare Center, and Hospice of West Alabama.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18 at Trinity Cemetery in Nutbush, TN. The memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, AL on Saturday, August 1 at 2:00 p.m. with prelude music beginning at 1:30 p.m. and a reception at the church following the service. Skelton Funeral Home of Reform is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the L. Jeffries Binford, Jr. Organ Recital Fund at First Presbyterian Church (900 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401), Theater Tuscaloosa, or the charity of one’s choice.