Jerry Thomas Sparks entered into eternal rest on May 22, 2019. Jerry was born October 18, 1950 in Arab, Alabama. He was raised in the Georgia Mountain community of Guntersville, Alabama and attended Bethel United Methodist Church with his family. Jerry graduated Marshall County High School in the Class of 1969. He received his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with concentrations in science and history from Auburn University in 1974. Jerry began his teaching career at Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Alabama and subsequently taught at Kate Duncan Smith DAR School in Grant, Alabama. He then embarked upon a career in the restaurant business and worked for many years as a general manager and district leader for Quincy’s restaurants and Spartan Foods, Inc. During this time, he resided with his family in Cullman, AL and attended First Baptist Church. Most recently, Jerry was the proprietor of the Blue Plate Cafe on Governor’s Drive in Huntsville.
Jerry joins the saints in the light J.D. Paul and Doris Marie Smallwood Sparks and Christopher Fisher Martin. Jerry is deeply mourned by a loving body of family and friends and patrons of Blue Plate Cafe including Kerriann Sparks Martin, Meribeth Sparks, Justin Daniel Sparks, Tereesa Caine Sparks, James Christopher Martin, Hannah Sparks, Mary Elliott, Thomas Shepherd and Chaney Stone Martin, Isabelle and AnnElise George, Riley Daniel, Justin Blake and Sissy-Girl Sparks, Carol O’Neal, Sarah Beth O’Neal, Brenda Gail Sparks, James Sparks, and Elaine Sparks Rutherford.
A memorial celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, 2320 Bob Wallace Ave. SW, Huntsville, AL 35805.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorials be made to support Castin n Catchin, which raises money for congenital heart disease research at Children’s of Alabama. Donations can be designated to Castin n Catchin in memory of Jerry Sparks and sent Attn: Shelly McCarty, Children’s of Alabama Foundation, 1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233. Alternatively, memorials may be made to the Children’s of Alabama website www.childrensal.org under the Giving tab. In the comments section, please designate Castin n Catchin, CVICU in memory of Jerry Sparks.
