Gerald M. Hearn's Obituary
Gerald Maurice Hearn, 72, passed away Monday, April 27, 2015, at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville, Tennessee. Born August 24, 1942, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, Jerry graduated from Humes High School in 1960. He was a US Army veteran, honorably discharged in 1962 after assignments in Germany and around the U.S. He began his career in journalism shortly thereafter as a reporter for The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal. He continued his career at WKNO, WDIA and several smaller radio stations in the Memphis area, where he interviewed such notable leaders as Martin Luther King, Jr. His interest in Memphis music led him to a public-relations position at Stax Records, where he helped promote musical legends such as Al Green and Isaac Hayes. He finished his career in broadcast journalism at WREG-TV in Memphis, where he was producer-director for nearly 20 years. On Oct. 1, 1996, he began the second half of his career at Memphis-based FedEx. He returned to school in his mid-50s, and in August of 2000 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He retired from FedEx at age 70 as a senior communications specialist, and stayed active in the U of M community, including serving as president of the University of Memphis Alumnae Association. Jerry enjoyed photography, gardening and travel and was a fan of sports (particularly racing, baseball and basketball). A history buff, he read voraciously. He also home schooled his daughter from kindergarten through fourth grade. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Eunice Rodman Hearn and Joseph Paul Hearn; his brother, Kenneth Paul Hearn; and his ex-wife, Linda Marie Joyner. He is survived by his two children, Rebekah Marie (Tommy) Yearout of Clarksdale, Mississippi; David Graham (Donna) Jones of Oskaloosa, Kansas; one grandson, Ethan Graham Yearout, four years old; two sisters, Mary Lee (Robert) Turner of Mesa, Arizona and Joan (J.W.) True of Cabot, Arkansas. He is also survived by one of his closest friends and caretakers, sister-in-law Beverly J. Walker of Memphis, Tennessee; as well as sisters-in-law Emily J. (Dennis) Strope and Patricia (Raymond) Turner of Jackson, Tennessee, and a host of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. A large group of friends including Memphis-area residents Cyndy Bach, Judy Jones, Judy Kern and others mourn his loss. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, May 30 at the Fogelman Executive Conference Center, 330 Innovation Drive, Memphis, TN 38152. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Jerry’s name to the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House, the Kemmons Wilson Family Center, University of Memphis or the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall.”
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