By CNC Staff
Mr. Lurone Jennings, a beloved educator, coach, and former city administrator, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the age of 70.
Known affectionately as “Coach” to many, Mr. Jennings dedicated his life to serving the youth of Chattanooga. His full obituary is published beginning on Page 8 and you can share in his life-long gift of sharing and service to others.
Coach Jennings will always be remembered for his unwavering support and love for youth through his affiliation with numerous organizations as well as the Mary Walker Historical & Educational Foundation (MWF).
Following his retirement from city government, Mr. Jennings served as Board Chair of the MWF. This literacy-focused organization honors Mary Hardway Walker, who achieved literacy at the remarkable age of 114. The Foundation also sponsors Camp REACH, a six-week summer program that exposes high school students to diverse career paths in media, painting, cosmetology, and logistics. The acronym REACH embodies the program’s core values: Respect, Earn, Achieve, Citizenship, and Hard Work.
The MWF’s current Executive Director, Adrian Edwards and former Executive Director John L. Edwards, III shared tributes to “Coach” and will be forever grateful for the guidance, leadership, strategic planning, and laughter that Coach Jennings brought into their lives and their visions for serving others.
Visitation for Coach Jennings will be held on Friday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Hope City Church, 7 North Tuxedo Ave. A funeral service will follow at noon, with interment at Hamilton Memorial Gardens, 5351 TN 153 in Hixson. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of John P. Franklin Funeral Home.
Coach Jennings’ Words of Wisdom:
“I love you enough not to let you hang yourself and think the world is going to accept (bad) behavior.”
“My DNA is such that I want to make a difference and help people as long as I have an opportunity.”
“It may sound tough, but following instruction is basic to job readiness.”
“If we’re not preparing them for the world of work and how to function and to work with people, then street life is going to suck them up.”
“God blessed me to have a dream and a strong desire to overcome poverty through sports, education, hard work and people who believed in me,” he said. “I want young people to know it doesn’t matter the color of your skin or what neighborhood you grow up in. If you have faith in your dream and keep working hard for what you want you can achieve your goals.”
and guest speaker Greg Funderburg in summer of 2023.