Gerald Elliott

Gerald Franklin Elliott was born on April 16, Easter Sunday in 1933; He grew up in Birmingham, having gone to Elyton Grammar School and West End High School where he played football. Auburn University awarded him with an athletic scholarship to play football. His college education was interrupted by a call from the Marines; he went on active duty during the Korean War. After the Marine Corp. he returned to Auburn and was captain of the 1956 football team. He liked to say his only claim to fame is still holding the record for scoring the most touchdowns in a 2-year period against the University of Alabama! Jerry graduated from Auburn in 1957 and shortly began coaching football at Vanderbilt. Soon he was thrilled to coach with Shug Jordan at Auburn. Later he coached at Kansas State and the University of Tennessee with Bill Battle. After retiring from coaching, he was in sales with Worth Sports and Hibbett School and Team Sports. Jerry has been an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 1962, having been the FCA founding director at Auburn, bringing in a very special speaker, Billy Graham; director of the FCA both at UT and Kansas State. He has also volunteered with The Gideons International, the Salvation Army, and in numerous ways at his home church of Briarwood Presbyterian Church where he was an active member since 1985. He has participated in mission trips to Russia, Guatemala, Spain, and Libya, and has traveled widely for pleasure. Married to Dorel, together they have 6 children and 17 grandchildren. Jerry made you feel like you were his best friend. He never met a stranger and had 3 packed address books. He is remembered for his contagious laugh and well-known for mailing notes to friends and family for any reason at all. A great story-teller, he never lacked for material using football and recruiting tales. He liked to say, “Remember God’s Phone number! Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.’” Glory!

He is survived by his brother, James Kyle Elliott; sister Anne Marie (Allen) Bailey; sons, Jerry V. Elliott and Jeffrey L. Elliott (Tara); grandchildren, Catherine Threlkeld, Anne, Mary, Emily, Rebekah, Davis, and Jack Elliott; nephews, Mark Bailey and D.J. Kyle Elliott. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Kyle Elliott and Frances Elizabeth Williams Elliott; son, James Henderson Elliott; and brother, David Elliott.

A Graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, at 10:15 AM at the Alabama National Cemetery with a Memorial service to follow at 11:30 AM at Briarwood Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, P.O Box 59267, Birmingham, AL 35259.

Graveside

10:15 AM ,Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Alabama National Cemetery
3133 Hwy 119 Montevallo, AL 35115

Memorial Service

11:30 AM ,Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Briarwood Presbyterian Church
2200 Briarwood Way Birmingham, AL 35243