John “Jack” Jolly passed away on June 14, 2024 at the age of 94 years old.
Born October 3, 1929 in Huntingdon, Tennessee, he was preceded in death by his parents John F. Jolly Jr. and Anna Sue Denton Jolly, and his sister Julia Jolly Jackson.
He was raised in Murfreesboro where he was educated in the public school system. He graduated from Central High School in 1948. After graduation, he attended Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tennessee. He received his Bachelor of Science, Masters, and Educational Specialist degrees from Middle Tennessee State University. He was a member of the Naval Reserve and the Tennessee National Guard, having served for ten years.
In 1953 Jack began his career in education and coaching at Walter Hill High School. He also taught and coached at Chrichlow Elementary, Mitchell-Neilsen Elementary, Tullahoma High School, Smyrna High School, and Oakland High School. His Smyrna High School Football team of 1960 went undefeated. His baseball teams at Tullahoma and Oakland won seven district championships and three regional championships.
For most of his life, Jack was involved with some phase of baseball, having learned the love of the game from his father. Jack helped to organize Little League Baseball in Murfreesboro, and coached both Little League and Babe Ruth baseball. For 22 years he umpired and refereed in the games of football and basketball. After 35 years in education, he retired from the Rutherford County School System in 1988.
He immediately was contacted by the Montreal Expos professional baseball organization about a part time scouting job. He jumped at the chance to stay involved with the sport of baseball, which he so loved. After two years with the Expos, the Chicago White Sox hired him, and he remained with the organization until his retirement from scouting in the fall of 2013.
Well known throughout Tennessee as “Mr. Baseball”, he was awarded many honors. One of the highlights of his early retirement years was a roast given in 1999 by his previous Oakland baseball players and many friends. He was named “Mr. Baseball” by the Nashville Ole Timers Baseball Association in 2005. He was named coach of the year in football and baseball six times. The Oakland High School Baseball stadium was named Jack Jolly Stadium in his honor in 2012.
He belonged to the Rutherford County Ole Timers Baseball Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Coaches Hall of Fame, and the Oakland High School Football Hall of Fame. On November 14, 2023 the Inaugural Mr. Baseball Award was presented to Jack by the Rutherford County Baseball Organization. This was the only time that this award was named that, as its name was immediately changed to the Jack Jolly Award.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years. Ella (Dolly) Tittsworth Jolly, daughter Susie Jolly Fusting (Larry), son John P. Jolly, grandchildren Gracie Fusting Arms (Travis), Jackson Fusting, and great-grandchild Hunter Arms.
Jack was a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
In Lieu of Flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Alive Hospice of Murfreesboro.
Visitation will be on Saturday, June 22nd, from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Memorial Service will be on Saturday, June 22nd, at 1:00 PM at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. https://www.woodfinchapel.com
For more obituaries visit https://rutherfordsource.com/obituaries/
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