"Mandalas" Exhibit - Fort Worth, TX

A reception and opening show honoring the late Sharon Jacobus Benzenhoefer entitled "Mandalas" will be presented April 3 at the Fort Worth Community Art Center in town. (Source: Unity Church).

The hours of the exhibit are 6-9 p.m. and the venue is located at 1300 Gendy Street in Fort Worth.

The digital photos aim at finding a spiritual center in whorls of visual elements and present them as points of meditation on the nature of mortality and eternal beauty, according to a flyer.

The show will run through April 29 and gallery hours are 9-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 10 to 5 on Saturdays.

Admission is free.

Sharon was born Oct. 18, 1958 in Providence, R.I., the daughter of Lee A. and Joanna J. Jacobus. She was a devoted member of the Unity Church of Fort Worth and enjoyed 16 years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous where her list of friends is endless, according to her obituary. (Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram). Sharon was a teacher at Lamar High School in Arlington Independent School District for ten years. Married mother of a teenage daughter, Sharon taught photography for ten years and inspired numerous students, friends, and colleagues with her talent and generous spirit.

She passed away from colon cancer March 16 and an informal memorial service was held March 28 at her church where several people whose lives she touched spoke from the podium about her influence.

Among them was her pastor, Paul Roach who spoke of how Sharon, even from her hospital and hospice bed, was still concerned about how others were doing. Her trademark humor full of puns and lighthearted irony, were one of the treasured memories of those gathered at her service.

The packed memorial included a tune by Eric Clapton, a choir (which Sharon was a member of) performance of "Angels Among Us," several tributes, and funny stories shared from students to fellow teachers.

"Mrs. J" as she was fondly known by some of her students, was the reason one young man who remembered Sharon is a photographer today, he explained.

Sharon's guest book on legacy.com has been flooded since her death of tributes, condolences, and memories such as these:

"I was also a photography student of hers at Lamar and I deeply regret not getting to see her after graduation and thanking her for all the help and guidance she provided. Her talent, passion, and spirit will always live on."

"Sharon was one of those people who accepted you no matter who you were or what you believed. She was funny, kind, and dedicated. She loved her family and she loved her students. I will always remember the occasions when she came in to have lunch with myself and fellow teachers at Arlington Lamar. She carried her funny little lunch box and shared something to make us all laugh. We will all miss her at Lamar High School."

"I couldn't imagine my photography class without her there at least some of the time. She made photography a blast and brought a sort of magic to class that I couldn't find anywhere else. She will be greatly missed."

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at any Bank of America for deposit to the Caitlin Benzenhoefer Education Fund.