Jackie Ethridge

Published 5:00 am Thursday, October 23, 2014

Retired Coach

    Services for Jackie Ethridge will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Russell, Randy Hodges and Barbara Scarbrough officiating. Burial will follow in Fellowship Cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Ethridge, 83, of Martin, died Tuesday in the Veterans nursing home at Kosciusko after a long illness with Parkinson’s and Lewy Bodies dementia. Renowned locally, he coached at West Point, Center Hill and West Lauderdale amassing outstanding records in basketball. He also taught in Jefferson Parish, La. He was a Baptist, and active in many capacities, a member of Liberty Church and served in the Army Infantry. 

    Survivors include his wife, Ruth Johnson Ethridge; brother in law, David Thead and wife Jeannie and daughter Laura Amanda; sisters in Law, Helen Ethridge, Loanesse Ethridge and Laura Johnson Marshall and many beloved nieces and nephews, many of whom he coached in high school.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Frankie Ethridge McKee; brothers, James, William and Ikie Ethridge; sisters, Eva (James Frank) Spears, Sara (Doc) Sims, and one sister in law, Jerry Ethridge.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund or Fellowship Baptist Church Building Fund.

    Special thanks to Caregivers at V.A. Home, Kosciusko, Covenant Hospice, Philadelphia and Footprints Adult Day Care, Newton, for their loving care during his illness.

    Pallbearers serving are Jim Ethridge, Ray Ethridge, Eddie Spears, Ike Ethridge, Wade Spears and Wesley Spears. Honorary pallbearers are Billy Bounds, Bobby Caldwell and Tack Moore.

    Visitation will be 11:30 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.