Rev. James Jerry Lail

Rev. James Jerry Lail, 80, went home to be with the Lord on April 12, 2021. He had ongoing cancer since March 2008.

Jerry was born to the late Rev. James R. and Faye Chapman Lail on September 23, 1940, in Taylorsville. He was a 1958 graduate of Taylorsville High School. Mr. Lail served in the US Air Force from August 1958 to June 1962.

After being discharged from the military, he was employed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, retiring in 2006, after 35 years as manager of the Materials and Tests Laboratories in Statesville and Asheville.

In August 1971, Jerry gave his life to the Lord and, in 1973, the Lord called him into the ministry. He served as a bi-vocational pastor throughout his ministerial career. Pastoring churches in Alexander, Iredell, and Wilkes counties in NC, and Tarrant and surrounding counties in Texas.

Jerry is a graduate of Mitchell Community College, 1976, Statesville, Gardner-Webb University, 1978, Boiling Springs, and Southwestern Theological Seminary, 1982, Fort Worth, Texas. While attending the Seminary, he served as a bi-vocational minister and was employed by Texas Alcohol and Narcotics Education.

Those preceding him in death, along with his parents, were a brother, Bobby Lail; a sister, Brenda Lail; paternal grandparents, Troy and Julia Lail; and maternal grandparents, Lon and Lucy Chapman.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Linda Russell Lail; a daughter, Tonya Lail Millsaps; three grandchildren, Aaron (Heather) Millsaps, Jonathan (fiancée Jesse Bost) Millsaps, and Matthew Millsaps; four great-grandchildren, Cheyanne Millsaps, Braydon Millsaps, Stormalynn Millsaps, and Serenity Millsaps; brother, Jack (Brenda) Lail; sister, Linda Lail; brother-in-law, Donald (Arlene) Russell; two aunts, Mary Leigh (Fred) Jolly, and Sarah Ann Chapman Gentry; a number of nephews, nieces, cousins, special friend, Wyndell (Anna Mae) Hollar, and many other very good friends.

Visitation and service will be held at Corinth Reformed Church, Hickory. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., with a memorial service starting at 3 p.m., on Sunday, April 18, 2021. Rev. Dr. Robert Thompson will officiate. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Corinth Reformed Church, Carolina Caring, or charity of choice.

Condolences may be left at www.catawbamemorialpark.com.

The family is under the care of Catawba Memorial Park, Funerals & Cremations.