Coach Terry Tippett's Obituary
Terrell (Terry) Wright Tippett went home to be with the Lord on November 16th, 2024 after a prolonged battle with many health issues.
Services will be held Saturday, November 23rd at First Evangelical Church at 1:00pm with a reception to follow.
Terry was born to John Wright Tippett and Maxine Bollinger Tippett in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on September 1st, 1945.
Basketball was in his blood from an early age thanks to his father loving and playing the game in his high school years. After moving to Memphis, Terry excelled in all sports, especially basketball, at Overton High School where his team went to the state tournament in 1963.
He attended Southeast Missouri College where he played basketball his freshman year. He graduated from Memphis State University obtaining his Master's degree in education.
He began his basketball coaching career at Collierville High School in 1968 and continued coaching at Dyer County High School from 1972 to 1977. He returned to Memphis, coaching at Trezevant High School where his team won a state championship in 1980. Then he coached at White Station from 1986 to 2004 with his teams winning 472 games, finishing state runners up twice, and winning the state tournament four times. He finished his career at ECS in 2018. While there, his team won a state championship in 2011. He was inducted into several Hall of Fames during his career and was humbled as the White Station gym floor was named for him.
In addition to basketball, Terry treasured his family and many friends. He enjoyed traveling to numerous places especially to the New England area to enjoy fall foliage and he looked forward every year to going to the Final Four Basketball Tournament with his buddies. Terry always found time to play golf and even though he knew he wasn't very good, he loved the camaraderie and being out in nature. He was a faithful member of First Evangelical Church for many years where he had served as a deacon and was a dedicated BSF attendee.
In life, Terry was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bradley. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Nancy, of 53 years, his sister Gwen Hannah (Skip), his brother Mark, and beloved in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Evangelical Church or Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, 38119. (901) 767-8930.
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