Jerry was born March 17, 1937, in Wheeler, MS. He graduated from Wheeler High School in 1955 where he played basketball from 1952-1955. He was the captain of the winning team at the 1955 State Basketball Championship. He attended Mississippi State University, graduating in 1959 with a degree in civil engineering. While at MSU, Jerry was a member of the Blue Key Honor Society, a Distinguished ROTC Graduate, a Who's Who in American Colleges, President of the M-Club, and a Distinguished Engineering Fellow. Jerry was the co-captain of the bulldog basketball team when MSU won the SEC Championship in 1959, rated 3rd in the nation.
Jerry served in the US Army from 1960 to his last assignment as Deputy Commander RC of 2nd U.S. Army in Fort Gillem, GA. He commanded troops with the Platoon, Company, Battalion, Group, and Brigade units for the Mississippi National Guard. Jerry retired in 1993, with the grade of Major General, from the US Army. Jerry's civilian life was served as a registered professional engineer. He was a supervisory civil engineer for the USDA National Resources Conservation Service from 1965-2002. While residing in Tupelo, MS, Jerry and his family attended Harrisburg Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. After retiring, Jerry moved his family back home to Wheeler, MS where he became a cattleman and enjoyed the farm life. He passed away on February 24, 2018.