Obituaries

Born in Hixson, Tennessee, Bob moved three years later to South Pittsburg with his parents Ann Anderson and Edgar Bomar Sherrill and sister Earlyne Sherrill Anderson. After graduation from South Pittsburg High School in 1952, Bob attended Middle Tennessee State and then served two years in the Korean Conflict in the United States Army in Europe during which time he enrolled in a number of courses at the University of Maryland at Heidelberg Germany. After his discharge from the military, he enrolled for another year at MTSU.

In 1957 he and his beloved wife Patsy were married. From that time forward he was supportive of the many civic activities for which he will be remembered. Those activities include but are not limited to ten years as City Recorder/City Judge, nine years as Executive Director of the South Pittsburg Housing Authority, and in 1962 was elected President of the local Jaycee Chapter which in 1958 honored him as Man-of-the-Year for his work for “Operation Pin Cushion” to provide polio shots for citizens of Marion County. He and Patsy were influential in the ground floor of The National Cornbread Festival. He was twice elected Mayor of South Pittsburg and among the accomplishments he was proud of were the Cedar Avenue Streetscape and the restoration of the historic Princess Theatre. He was grateful to the many citizens who gave of their time, talents and finances to complete this one million three hundred-thousand-dollar project, including the succeeding administrations that followed his tenure as mayor.

After leaving city government, Sherrill was elected in November 2009 to the Board of Directors of the Sequatchie Valley Electric Cooperative where he served until his passing. He became chairman of the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society in 2017.

In 1958 Bob became the public address system announcer for the South Pittsburg High School’s home football games. His longtime dedication to the athletic program was recognized with the naming of the Robert E. Sherrill Press Box at Beene Stadium, and by both print and TV media. In later years he was joined in the press box by his grandson Gray who served as his spotter.

He was a member of the Holly Avenue United Methodist Church where he was a member of the trustees and sang in the choir.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Patsy, his daughter Angie (Danny) Smith, grandchildren Erica Leigh Smith and Daniel Gray Smith, nieces Marsha (Marge Boric) Raulston, Melanie (Jim) Gill, Vivi (Jivan) Thakker, nephews Tommy Anderson, Alan (Denise) Anderson, Bobby (Terry) Ambrester, and many great nieces and great nephews.

He is preceded in death with his mother Ann Anderson, father Edgar Bomar Sherrill, sister Earlyne Sherrill Anderson, niece Brenda Anderson Agnew, sisters-in-law Ginna (Jack) Raulston, Peggy (Perry) Gouge, and brother-in-law Billy (Bonnie) Ambrester.

The visitation will be at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg, Tennessee on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 from 2:00pm- 8:00pm CDT, and the funeral service will be at Holly Avenue United Methodist Church in South Pittsburg, Tennessee on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 2:00pm CDT.

Honorary pallbearers will include Daniel Smith, Gray Smith, Ron Hudson, Bill Lawrence, Mike Partin, Shannon Duggar, Barry Cole, Tim Cole, David Cawood, Mike Killian, Dr. Rusty Adcock, and Ken Jordan.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to the Holly Avenue United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 189, South Pittsburg, the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society, Inc. P.O. Box 175, South Pittsburg, TN 37380, and the South Pittsburg Letterman’s Club, 717 Elm Ave, South Pittsburg, Tennessee 37380.