Jerry Lynn Skinner, 69, died Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 17, 2016 in the chapel of First Baptist Church of Jackson. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Mr. Skinner was born on January 31, 1947, in Meridian, the son of the late Dudley and Lessie Skinner. Reared in Jackson, he graduated from Provine High School and began working in the floor covering business. Mr. Skinner earned his Bachelor of Education at MS College. He taught history and driver’s education in the Hinds County School System for several years. While teaching, Mr. Skinner and his wife Barbara had a daughter, Carrie, who at age 2 was diagnosed with Leukemia. Mr. Skinner helped to organize and was the charter president of the UMMC Candlelighters and was instrumental in the establishment of the Candlelighters Art Calendar that benefited families with children with cancer.
Mr. Skinner graduated from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, earning his Master of Divinity, pastored numerous churches and served as a pastoral counselor in several hospitals. Mr. Skinner returned to Mississippi College and earned a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling and obtained the LPC and NCC certifications. He established a private practice which he maintained for many years. He then accepted a position at Marion Hill Chemical Dependency Center where he served as Clinical Director for 6 years.
He moved to Missouri and for 15 years worked as a high school guidance counselor. Mr. Skinner established several drug free competitive bar-b-q teams sanctioned by the Kansas City Bar-B-Q Society. These competitions led to monetary awards for students graduating from high school drug free.
In 2012, Mr. Skinner retired and moved to Picayune where he continued his love of cooking. He was a former member of First Baptist Church of Jackson, Alta Woods Baptist Church and Waldensian Presbyterian Church in Monet, MO.
Survivors include his wife Barbara and daughter Carrie both of Picayune; brother-in-law, Russell Allen Scafidel and wife Linda of Brandon; niece, Christy Emerson and husband Nathaniel and their children, Launa and Bryce; niece, Bonnie Snellgrove and husband Daniel of Flowood and their children Ethan and Rachel, uncle J.W. Espey and cousin Shelley Espey of Meridian.
Memorials may be made to the UMMC Candlelighters Association, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216