Jerry Craig

Jerry Craig, 69, of Covington, passed away on Tuesday, March 12.  Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 15 at the Covington Funeral Home chapel with interment to follow in Magnolia Gardens Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the funeral home.  Jerry was the retired Fire Chief for the City of Covington.  He began his career with the Covington Fire Dept. as a volunteer in March of 1977, was hired as Assistant Chief on January 19, 1981 and was promoted to Chief of April 26, 1986 and retired in November of 2014 having served the citizens of Covington for over 38 years.  He was active at the local and state level in his profession and was responsible for co-founding the Tipton County Fire Chief’s Association where he served as President.  Additionally, Chief Craig served as members of the following organizations:  The Tennessee Fire Chief’s Association, where he was a board member for four years, serving as President in 1995 and is now a life member; The International Fire Chief’s Association where he is a lifetime member, and a member of The National Fire Protection Association since 1981.  Jerry obtained his certification for Fire Investigator from the International Association of Arson Investigators of which he is a member.  In addition to his service to the public, he served as the Dixie Girls Softball National Director for 31 years, the Covington Dixie Youth Softball President for six years and the Covington Saddle Club President for five years. He also served as a member of the Dyersburg State Community College Steering Committee for Land Purchase and as well as many other committees.  He is survived by his wife, Debbie Craig; three daughters, Lisa (Bill) Cook of Covington, Candi (Larry) Wildes of Helena, MT and Michelle (Danny) Wilson of Atoka; one brother, Mike Craig of Memphis and six grandchildren, Whitney Cook, Zac Cook, Anna Wildes, Ben Wilson, Chandler Wilson and Austin Wilson.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Hiram Paul and Dona Geraldine Craig.