Jimmy Parris, 80, of Athens, passed away Thursday morning, November 9, 2017 at his home.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Athens and was the son of the late Horace Hayden and Pearl Allen Parris. He was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Parris Lyon, and brothers, James and Charles Parris.
Jimmy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Athens for the past 50 years. He was a 1958 graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan College (University) and received his Master of Science Degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1961. As a teacher at McMinn County High School from 1959-1969, he also served as assistant football coach and founder of the men and women’s varsity tennis teams. As principal of McMinn County High School from 1969-1978, Jimmy was committed to the acceleration of academic excellence. He held numerous offices in the Tennessee Principals’ Study Council, including State Chairman. The Athens Jaycees honored him as “Young Man of the Year,” in 1970. Following his tenure at McMinn, Jimmy served as principal of the McMinn County Vocational Center from 1978 till his retirement in 1999. During this time, he was named “Distinguished Administrator” in 1998 by the Tennessee Education Association, and “Educator of the Year” by the Optimist Club of Athens.
Jimmy was a past president of the Tennessee Wesleyan College (University) Alumni Association. He was an Eagle Scout and served 17 years as an Assistant Scoutmaster. As a lifelong educator, Jimmy made an effort to attend all school related events throughout his career and during retirement.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Oletha Campbell Parris of Athens; daughter and son-in-law, Tracey and Victor Schwarz of Sandy, UT; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Holly Parris of Trenton, GA; three grandchildren, Andrew Hayden Schwarz, Aliyah Brooke Murphy, Ella Savannah Parris; and sisters-in-law, Deborah Campbell of Niota, Bernice Parris of Columbia, Maryland, and Pauline Parris of San Antonio, TX.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm, Saturday, November 11, 2017 at First Baptist Church Athens with Dr. Jason Clark officiating. Interment will follow in Foster Cemetery. The family will receive friends from11:30-1:30 pm in the church Atrium prior to the service.
The family would like to thank all of Jimmy's caregivers over the years, particularly the staff and residents of Athens Place Assisted Living.
The family would like to establish a scholarship award at McMinn County High School in Jimmy's memory. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "Jimmy Parris Scholarship Fund", at Athens Federal Community Bank, 106 W. Washington Avenue, Athens, TN 37303.

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