Jack Jolly passed away 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 Saturday June 22nd 10:00AM until 1:00PM at Woodfin Memorial
Chapel. Memorial Service will be Saturday June 22nd 1:00PM at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.
www.woodfinchapel.net