On Saturday morning, July 16, 1983, Ripley, Tenn., Lauderdale County and this entire area were shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden and totally unexpected death of Jerry Corlew, faithful and able preacher of the gospel and County Executive of Lauderdale County, Tenn. He had entered Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., two days before for some medical regulation touching a heart problem with possible by-pass surgery later if necessary. The tests were gong routinely and he was in good spirits following a hearty breakfast when suddenly he experienced a massive heart attack and the best of medical help instantly available could not save him though he was in one of the finest hospitals in the country. Funeral services were conducted for him at the Ripley church of Christ building on Monday morning, July 18, 1983, by Alan E. Highers and this writer. The second largest audience ever assembled in our building congregated to pay final respects to a great, good and godly man. Among those present were family, friends, community leaders, county leaders, leaders from several surrounding counties and representatives of state government in Nashville, Tenn. Extra chairs had to be put out to accommodate the vast throng who came. Jerry was a native of this area and graduated from Halls High School in 1953. He served in the military for awhile. After leaving the Navy he attended Freed-Hardeman College, David Lipscomb College, Union University, Middle Tennessee University and the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. He held two Masters Degrees from the last two named institutions. He was well educated and remained a careful student to the very day of his death. For a number of years he taught school and did counseling along with his preaching. For nine years he served either as County Judge or County Executive with the change of this office coming in his tenure just a short time back. He was community-minded and served in many, many capacities. His accomplishments and achievements were many. His name was permanently inscribed in Whos Who in Service To God and Humanity. He was very humble and never boasted of his talents or his many accomplishments. His first love and foremost priority was that of a Christian. He was a scholarly student of the Bible and never ceased to grow in its knowledge and wisdom. He was an excellent student of the English Bible and had a good grasp of the Greek as well. He was a member of the Ripley church of Christ but preached most every Sunday elsewhere. For many years he taught the Wednesday night Bible Study Adult Class at our Mid-Week Service. Jerry was successful as husband and father. He was married to the former Martha McBride who has been a faithful and talented help meet. Three lovely children, all Christians, survive. They are Steve, Carol (Mrs. Steve Boyd, and Marc. Jerry had one granddaughter of whom he was especially proud. Alan spoke of him as a good man using Acts 11:22-24. I spoke of his leadership in so many crucial areas and the many qualities he adapted and adopted from great and godly Bible characters. He loved God, Christ, the church, the Bible, his family and his fellowman. He was a great admirer of brother Guy N. Woods and read with relish what brother Woods wrote. A prince and great man in Spiritual Israel has fallen. He was a true and loyal friend to me and I have sustained a great earthly loss in his passing. Tears stain my cheek as I pen this tribute. The world is better because he lived. He belonged to a vanishing breed of men, real men. --- Robert R. Taylor, Jr., P. O. Box 464, Ripley, Tenn., 38063. Gospel Advocate, September 1, 1983, page 539.