John "Randy" Ross
John Randall "Randy" Ross of Knoxville, born on April 4, 1964, in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, to Judson S. Ross Sr. and Ruth Young Ross, passed peacefully into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior on January 26, 2021.
Randy accepted Christ at a young age at Victory Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Nancy Ross Stinnett.
Survivors are sisters, Winnie Ross Emrick (Steve) of Gulf Shores, AL, Jennifer Ross Renshaw (Troy) of Birmingham, AL and brother Sherman Ross (Debbie) of Rockmart, GA. In addition, he is survived by nieces Misty Emrick Reed (Shain), Nita Emrick Slatton and special niece and caregiver Brooke Ross Triplett (Steve) as well as great nephews Judson Triplett, James Slatton and great nieces Chloe Brady and Jenna Ruth Triplett and adopted son, Zachery Ross and step-daughter Brittany Baker MacDonald and her daughters, Madison MacDonald and Zoey MacDonald.
Randy grew up in Rossville, Georgia and graduated with the Class of 1982 of Rossville High School and attended Dalton Jr. College. Randy began his 38-year career in the radio business in 1983, after years of practicing doing play by play. His first job was as “Sanitation Engineer” with WGOW/KZ106 in Chattanooga, Randy later progressed to traffic reporter, sideline reporter and became a member of the KZ106 Morning Zoo Crew (1986), along with other on-air responsibilities, followed by a sales position first with WGOW/KZ106 (1990). In the early 1990s Randy co-hosted a NASCAR show with his friend, Shawn Whitfield. Later in 1996 he joined the Jacobus Agency. He joined US101 (1997) as local Sales Manager then General Sales Manager. In 1999 he moved to Johnson City, TN and became Sales Manager at WQUT. In 2001 Randy moved to Knoxville, TN as Sales Director for WIMZ(103.5) and WJXB (B97.5). In 2014 Randy was promoted to Vice President and General Manager for Midwest Communications in the Knoxville, TN market, leading WIMZ, WJXB, WDKW (95.7 Duke FM) and WNFZ (94.3 Jack FM). He achieved his radio dreams by excelling in his profession. Randy loved his profession and all the friends he had the pleasure to make along his life’s journey.
Randy loved his Georgia Bulldogs and college football. He experienced many road trips to support the Dawgs, the most memorable being the 2018 Rose Bowl. Randy received great joy in gifting others and gave great thought each time he gave a gift. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and hosting during the holidays, special occasions and watching football. Randy loved to laugh and he was a great story teller and regaled in sharing a story around the dinner table.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home in Knoxville, TN, with visitation from noon- 2 p.m. and service at 2 p.m. officiated by Steve Triplett. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Midwest Communications.
A second memorial service will be on Sunday, Jan. 31, at Lane Funeral Home – Southcrest in Rossville, GA, with visitation from 1-3 p.m. and service will be at 3 pm officiated by Steve Triplett. Eulogy will be given by Scott Chase. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Chattanooga area media.
A private burial will be at Lakewood Memory Gardens at a later date. Pallbearers will be Steve Triplett. Sherman Ross, Chad Hodges, Steve Emrick, Scott Chase, Shawn Whitfield, Bruce Bowden and Lonnie Jones.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, P.O. Box 4939, Maryville, TN 37802-4939 or Rossville High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1001, Rossville, GA 30741-1001.