Jim Jernigan

James Carter Jernigan, age 57, passed away at T.J. Sampson Hospital in Glasgow, Kentucky, January 11, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. He was born January 6, 1968, in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, the only son of Attorney James Charles Jernigan and his wife Patsy Ann (Ray) Jernigan. Jim graduated from Monroe County High School in 1986, and attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for three years.

Jim’s father, Attorney J.C. Jernigan, whom Jim called “Daddy-O,” had passed away when Jim was 17. His love of music began from the time he was a toddler, listening to his father play the steel guitar. A brilliant child, Jim was reading the newspaper to his dad’s legal clients when he was only three years old. He loved to sing and taught himself to play the keyboard and several stringed instruments. He loved rock and roll, country, and bluegrass music. His knowledge of well-known singers and musicians was enormous, and Jim went on the road with his band as a professional musician in his 20s and 30s.

Jim loved Monroe County and his home, built on the site of an early schoolhouse on the Fountain Run Road called “Rocky Hill.” Like his father, Jim loved nature, being outdoors, and taking care of animals. His reputation as a game fowl breeder was widely known. He also loved blue-eyed, white-coated dogs, and raised generations of them, with Roxy and Champ being his final pair. From a political family and knowledgeable in many subjects, he formed definite opinions and would share them fervently with all who would listen.

He served as a congregational song leader at the Fountain Run Church of Christ when his Uncle Max Ray was pastor. Jim knew the Bible and recently testified to a close neighbor when asked if he was saved, “I know where I am going.” Heaven was his destination because he wanted dearly to be reunited with his mom and dad. A devoted son, he deeply missed his mother, Patsy after she passed March 23, 2023, one day short of her 84th birthday.

Besides his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, Vergil Jernigan and Gracie Mae (Carter) Taylor, and Fred Bransford Ray and Lecta Ann (Deckard) Ray. Preceding him in death, Jim also had five beloved Aunts and Uncles: Max Ray (Fay) Spears Ray; Becky (Rich) Ray; Joe William and Margaret (Quinn) Taylor; Jerome and Shirley (Spivey) Taylor; John M. Taylor; David and Martha (Stevens) Taylor and Charles and Joyce (Shirley) Taylor.

He is survived by two aunts, Idru (Taylor) Vibbert (Joseph); and Jackie (Napier) Taylor, and numerous cousins from the Taylor, Ray, Vibbert, Shaw, Carter, Johnson, Wade, Kurtz and Jernigan families and many close friends who will all mourn his passing.

A visitation for Jim Jernigan will be held at Bartley & Sons Gamaliel Chapel, January 25, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm with a Memorial Service to follow at 12:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Jim and his passing, donations can be made to Bartley & Sons Funeral Home to cover his final expenses.

Bartley & Sons Gamaliel Chapel is honored to be entrusted with the care of Mr. Jim Jernigan and his family at this time.