Margaret G. Jerrolds

Margaret Grace Gattis Jerrolds was born September 17,1938 in Crump, Tennessee, the daughter of the late William Sherrill Gattis, Sr. and Frances Elizabeth Farris Gattis. She was united in marriage to the late Tommy Jack Jerrolds on May 30, 1959. She entered into eternity on March 23, 2018 at her home in the Burnt Church community surrounded by loved ones.

Mrs. Jerrolds received her Bachelors of Science in Education from Memphis State University. She received her Masters in Education from the University of Memphis in 1980, where she played on the championship softball team. She was employed by the Hardin County Board of Education as a teacher at Whites School for 40 years; 20 of those years as principal of the school.

Mrs. Jerrolds was deeply devoted to Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. She began attending Turkey Creek Baptist Church upon her marriage and was a member until the passing of her husband. She then returned to the faith of her childhood and was a member of Olivet Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She served as a Sunday school teacher at Turkey Creek for many years. At Cumberland Presbyterian she served as a member of Helping Hands, a card encouragement ministry.

A committed teacher, she considered her school children as an extension of her family. She was dubbed the “Field Trip Queen of Hardin County”. She believed that experiences were a integral part of education. She took the school children on many trips throughout the years to places including the Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, the Renaissance Fair in Florence, the Pinson Indian Mounds, the Memphis Zoo, Pink Palace Museum, Mud Island, Chucalissa Indian Mounds, the state capitol, the Hermitage in Nashville, the Helen Keller house and Shiloh Battlefield. She instituted “Fabulous Fridays” at Whites school which were cross- curricular enrichment activities which included cake decorating, macrame, cooking classes, hunter safety, school beautification, and plastic canvas. She coached both the girls and boys basketball, leading the girls team to the championship in 1965. She was a 4-H leader and a girl scout leader. Even in her retirement she was involved in education. She would read to her granddaughters kindergarten class each Friday. She was a member of the retired teachers association as well as the Hardin County Historical Society and Alpha Delta Kappa.

Her family was the center of her world. For 35 years, unless she was out of town, she cooked supper on Tuesday nights for anyone who would show up. For 36 years, each summer she would spend time with her immediate and extended family at Edisto Beach, South Carolina. She assisted her siblings in caring for their mother, Frances Gattis until she passed. After her husband, Tommy Jack had a stroke in 2011, she was his primary caretaker until his passing in 2016. After she retired from teaching, she committed herself to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, caring for them as babies, picking them up from school, helping them with homework, even home schooling for Pre-kindergarten.

She had an eclectic taste in Music. She enjoyed Elvis, the Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, the Gaither Vocal Band and other gospel groups, Owen Mac (an Irish country singer), Rascal Flatts, and various country music artists. She enjoyed the Bluegrass Festival at Whites school each year.

She loved taking pictures of her family and enjoyed watching historical documentaries, the Hallmark channel, Travel channel, Wheel of Fortune, NCIS and Bull. Mrs. Jerrolds loved to travel, in addition to the field trips she took with the students, she traveled extensively with her family. She traveled to over 36 states visiting Washington DC, Niagara Falls, San Francisco, Canada, Mexico, Sea World, Circus World, multiple trips to Disney World, and an Amtrak tour that included New Orleans, El Paso, Los Angeles, and Denver.

Mrs. Jerrolds is survived by her three children; Darrell Jerrolds and his wife Regina of Savannah, TN, Dale Jerrolds and his wife Lisa of Savannah, TN and Jackie Agnew and her husband Charlie of Cochran, GA. She was the devoted grandmother to 13 grandchildren, Paden Jerrolds, Lauren Morgan, Westin Jerrolds, Patience Sheets, Leah Jennings, TJ Agnew, Jessica Jerrolds, Ben Agnew, Janlyn Agnew, Kara Jerrolds, Eliana Agnew, Eric Rogers and Will Rogers, She was blessed with 6 great-grandchildren, Caden Jerrolds, Ivy Jerrolds, Jackson Morgan, Rylan Jennings, Evee Rogers, and Ella Rogers. She also leaves 3 sisters and 2 brothers, Shirley(Jimmy) Weathersbee of Jackson, SC, Judy (Don) Portanova of Orlando, FL, Diane Newby of Savannah, TN, Dan(Diane) Gattis of Jackson, SC and William Sherrill Gattis, Jr. (Carol) of Aiken,SC. Though loved and adored by numerous nieces and nephews, she will be especially missed by Frances and Nancy Prather.

Mrs. Jerrolds Celebration of life will be March 26, 2018 at Olivet Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Pastor Mitch officiating. Burial followed in Big Hill Cemetery in the Burnt Church community with Shackelford Funeral Directors in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Mrs. Jerrolds commitment to education can make donations, in her memory, directly to one of the following schools: Hardin County High School, Hardin County Middle School, Parris South and East Hardin. All funds donated will be used to purchase children’s library books.