James V. Carr

J. V. CARR

James V. Carr, Jr., affectionately know as ‘Coach’ passed away at his residence, Saturday, September 21, 2019. Often seen with either a tennis racket in his left hand or wearing a bow tie, Coach was born July 17, 1925 to James V. Carr and Mary Wall Carr.
After graduation from Clinton High School in 1943, he served in the United States Navy during World War 2 as a lieutenant junior grade navigator, graduating from Naval Air Navigation School in 1945. Coach married Mary Josephine Taylor November 1, 1948. Coach then graduated from Mississippi College in 1949 lettering in basketball. He received his Masters Degree in 1956 and his Advanced Masters Degree in 1967 from Mississippi State University.
Carr began his education career at Stephen D. Lee High School in 1949 where he taught history and served as assistant football coach, head basketball and baseball coach, track coach and principal during his tenure. Many are the stories to tell from his former students and players of Carr’s championship coaching days.
In 1971, after working as principal of Lee High school for 11 years, Coach was elected Assistant Superintendent of Education for the Columbus Public Schools. In 1975, he was elected Superintendent where he worked until his retirement in 1987.
A founding member of the Magnolia Tennis Club, Coach could be found there daily even at the age of 94. In 1950 Carr joined the Lion’s Club where he served as President.
Coach enjoyed volunteering his time with First United Methodist Church’s Loaves and Fishes Ministry and calling BINGO to the residents of Vineyard Court Nursing home.
Faith and Family were the most important things to Carr. He was a member of First United Methodist Church for 70 years. ‘Dede’ , as his grandchildren and great grandchildren affectionately called him, enjoyed time with his extended family in the Mississippi Delta, and attending gymnastics meets and ball games of his great grandchildren.
Along with his parents, Mr. Carr is preceded in death by his wife Mary Josephine Taylor Carr, his sons James V. Carr, III “Jimmy”, and Robert “Jeffrey” Carr, brother Robert Earl Carr, Sr., Sister Mary Carr McDonald and great granddaughter Courtney Leigh Crockett.
Mr. Carr is survived by his daughters Mary Jane Hinojosa, and JoAnne Carr, daughter in law Becky Carr, granddaughters Cathy Carr Howarth (Will) and Michelle Leigh Crockett and great grandchildren Avery Carter Howarth, Harrison James Howarth, Ferron Kendryc Crockett, II, Kaitlyn Breeona Crockett, Christopher Tramane Crockett and Taylor James Crockett, and sister-in-law Barbara Carr.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 25, 2019  at 9:30 AM followed by funeral services at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Kim Johnson, Fred Kinder, Dudley Bearden, Will Howarth, Harry Howarth, Doug Wheeler, Jack Carr, Bill Gavin and Wainor Hendrix. Honorary Pallbearers will be Miller Griffin, Frank Griffin, members of Magnolia Tennis Club, and members of the the Columbus Host Lions Club.
Memorials may be made to First Methodist Church, P.O. Box 32, Columbus, MS 39703 or to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 8, Columbus, MS, 39703.