Josh Jennings, Funeral Home Executive And Civic Leader In Marion County, Dies At Age 36 After Short Illness

Mr. Jennings spent his early career at Chattanooga Funeral Home.  He managed Tate Funeral Home, Jasper, for several years.  In 2011, he and partners Ralph Mosier and Burt Schaerer, developed Hamilton Funeral Home.  

In 2018, his funeral group purchased Rogers Funeral Home, a tradition in South Pittsburg and Jasper since 1925.  

Mr. Jennings was voted Marion County Democratic Party chair, the youngest person to hold that office. He was elected as alderman for the Town of Jasper.

He revitalized the Jasper Lions Club, taking it from a club of fewer than 20 members to over 50 through his active leadership. His vision of lighting the town square and providing a free Halloween festival for the children of the community resulted in the creation of the Jasper Lions Club Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree in 2016.  The event exceeded expectations in its inaugural year and continues to grow each year; 2019 attendance was estimated at 5,000 people.  

 

Mr. Jennings has been awarded the highest honor of Lionism, The Melvin Jones Fellowship.  He was recently honored as Marion County 2019 Citizen of the Year by the Marion County Chamber of Commerce.  He has been voted Best Funeral Director & Best Funeral Home in the Marion County News several years running.  He was also honored as Best Politician and Best Civic Club President.

Mr. Jennings was preceded in death by his father, Billy Jennings, and his grandfather, Joe Buck Davis.  He is survived by his wife, Layne Price Jennings, his mother and step father, Donna Davis Jennings Alexander and Jim Alexander; his grandmothers, Ms. Reba Webb Davis and Ms. Robbie Jennings, grandfather, Cecil Jennings, Jr., father and mother-in-law, Les and Pat Price; aunts and uncles Sandra Weaver (Jon), Reba Miller (Charlie), Mike Davis, Scott Davis (Shelley); sisters-in-law, Sarah Price Jones (Chris), Susan Price, and Jenny Price; cousins Jeff Miller, Courtney Miller, Melanie Akins, Bailey Davis, and Alex Davis; nieces, Jackson Jones and Austin Jones.  

Mr. Jennings was born in Chattanooga on August 30, 1983.  His first years were spent in Lookout Valley, then moving to Marion County where he attended Jasper Middle School.  He ultimately graduated, with honors, from Hamilton Heights Christian Academy.

At an early age, he had chosen his career path, to be a mortician.  He was a graduate of the John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science.

               

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Nashville Chapter, 4538 Trousdale Drive Nashville, TN 37204 or Jasper Lions Club/Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree, PO Box 655 Jasper, TN 37347.