Bill Jernigan
Billy V. Jernigan Sr., 80, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 17, 2008.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Johnnie, and is survived by his son, Van, and two grandchildren, Allie and B.V.
Bill discovered his art talents while attending Central High School in Chattanooga. He won several honors at local and regional art competitions. Art was more than a hobby to Bill; it was his life. He was inspired by the masters but his style was abstract, vivid and fiery as one art critic commented. His work was compared to that of Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollack, both abstract expressionists.
Bill’s business career afforded him the luxury to study and practice his gift between retail customers in the appliance business, where he filled many sketch books with incredible pen and ink drawings and portraits.
Success as an artist came later in life when several prominent art galleries in the Southeast recognized his abilities, held showings, featured his works which sold to admirers and collectors world wide.
He was born in October 19, 1928 and was a lifelong resident of Chattanooga. As noted earlier, he attended Central High School where he was a running back for the Purple Pounders football team. After high school he attended Cumberland College in Tennessee.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1946–1948, then served in the Army National Guard from 1955-1956 and was honorably discharged.
Graveside services will be held at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga on Monday at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a toast and a prayer celebrating Bill’s life and his passion.
Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist.
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