Jerry Ellis (Moe) Mcclung

Services for Jerry Ellis (Moe) McClung, 85, will be conducted on Saturday, July 25, 2015, at First United Methodist Church, Thomasville, Georgia at 11:00AM. The Rev. Dr. Milton Gardner, Jr., Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church, and Rev. Gary Milton will officiate. Mr. McClung died Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at his home following a lengthy illness. While saddened by his physical absence, Moe’s family rejoices in the knowledge that he is present with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Mr. McClung was born in Haralson County (Bremen), Georgia June 22, 1930, a son of the late Perry Mercer McClung and Wille Hathcock McClung. In 2011, Mr. McClung was preceded in death by his wife Judith Gray McClung. Also preceding him were his sisters, Ora Weed, Addie Kate Long and Opal McEwen; brothers, Earl McClung, Elton McClung, Euell McClung, Everett McClung and three infant brothers, Edgar, Ezra, and Edward; and his nephew, Perry E. McClung, whom he loved as a brother. A 1948 graduate of Bremen High School, Moe played all sports, excelled in football and was named All State center. Mr. McClung was offered football scholarships to several colleges and chose to play at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). Moe was a first string center as a determined Bulldog under the direction of Coach Wally Butts. Mr. McClung earned a B.S. in Education in 1951. The first year following graduation he was an assistant coach with the freshman football squad at the University of Georgia. In early 1952, he became a commissioned officer in 508th RCT at Fort Benning Georgia and later transferred and attached to the 11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 1954, he served in Fort Gulick, Canal Zone, Panama Canal as a Company Commander instructing enlisted soldiers from Central and South America on tactics and weapons. Mr. McClung received the National Defense Service Medal and Parachutist Badge. He was honorably discharged in 1955. Moe and his family then settled in Carroll County, Georgia where in the fall of 1956, he was hired as the head football Coach at Villa Rica High School, Villa Rica, Georgia. Coach McClung led his young Villa Rica players to an undefeated season in 1959. Moe was then recruited by Bacon County, Georgia (Alma), in 1960 to be the head football coach. After only one season in Alma, the late Ed Cone, Thomas County, Georgia School Superintendent recruited Moe to become the first Head Coach of the varsity football program at Central High School (now known as Thomas County Central High School). In 1964, Central won its first Sub-Region Championship. Mr. McClung received a Masters of Administration and Supervision in Education in 1969 from the University of Georgia. The Thomasville City School Board, Thomasville, Georgia then recruited him to fill the position of principal at Scott Elementary School. Later in 1978, McClung earned his 6-year post-graduate degree in Education at Valdosta State College. During his years in the field of education, he served on numerous local, state and national committees. He served on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which accredited schools in eleven southern states. After retiring from the Thomasville City School system, Moe worked for the State Department of Education, Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife, Judy, returned to Thomasville to enjoy retirement, grandchildren, and as much golf as possible. A member of First Baptist Church for over forty years, Mr. McClung served many years as an adult Sunday School teacher. Mr. McClung was a charter member of Glen Arven Country Club and, at the time of his death, the oldest participating member (even limited vision did not impede his golf game). Moe was a member of the UGA Letterman’s Club and “Wally’s Boys”. Mr. McClung was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame – University of Georgia Chapter, April 2014, receiving the Post – Graduate Achievement Award. Following the recognition, Moe was honored to serve as the “2014 Grand Marshall” of Ochlocknee’s Old South Day Parade. This man who chose a career in education touched many young lives and was very passionate about education, teachers and students. One of Moe’s greatest delights was when former students took the time to tell him “Thanks, Coach” or “You were my principal, Mr. McClung”. Moe loved dancing and always enjoyed the music of Willie Nelson. Moe was loved by many. He is survived by his children, Terry McClung Collins (Don), Duluth; Michael McClung, Hiawassee; Brett McClung (Bess), Marietta; Jeff Sheriff (Katherine Hale), Atlanta; Robin Sheriff Smith (Buddy), Anderson , South Carolina; grandchildren; Justin Beasley, Donald Collins, III (Michelle), Kendra Collins Klein (Jordan), Alicia Collins Watson (Jeff), Elizabeth E. Collins McLarty (Jack), Emily Ellington Collins, Lindsey McClung Tuttle (Aaron), Whit McClung (Ashley), Morgan McClung, Tyler Smith (Dale), Brice Smith, Ashley S. Testa, Katherine S. Wilhelm (Vadim), Graham Sheriff, Melanie Sheriff; great grandchildren, Katelyn Gray, Erisen Beasley, Cassidy, Camryn, and Crystal Collins, Madelyn and Eloise Klein, Kadence Collins, Brooke Testa, Kira Wilhelm, Gray Smith, Ira Tuttle. Mr. McClung is also survived by a sister, Alberta Kinard, sisters-in-law Frances McClung (Valdosta), Jean W. McClung (Woodstock); numerous beloved nieces and nephews; and children who loved Moe as “their” grandfather; Kimberly Stracke , Joshua Stewart, Kyle Rocque, Jennifer R. Nix, Stacey Calhoun, Stanford Hancock and “special friends’ never to be forgetten: Alice Parrish, Renee Mitchell, Christene Sneed, Lisa Powell, Christine Hudson, and Betty Washington. A visitation will be held at Allen & Allen Funeral Home from 5:30 to 8:30pm, Friday, July 24, 2015. Interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Bremen, Georgia Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 2:00pm. Memorial gifts may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org or First Baptist Church of Thomasville P.O. Box 2790, Thomasville, Georgia, 31799. Guests may sign the online register at www.allenfh.com .