He entered Heaven to rejoin his wife of nearly 50 years, Nancy Sawtelle Hayslip, who passed away in 2006.
Mr. Hayslip leaves behind a multitude of family and friends across the nation. Among them, daughter Sharon Hayslip Veglio of Bartlett, and son, Steve Hayslip, of Franklin Tennessee along with son in law, Albert Veglio and daughter in law, Kathryn Blake Hayslip. He also leaves behind grandchildren Katie Veglio, Karrie Veglio Matthews (and spouse Brian Matthews), Andrew Hayslip, Elizabeth Hayslip, Paul Hayslip (and spouse Britney Sams Hayslip).
A lifelong Memphian, James Hayslip grew up in the Highland Heights neighborhood, attending Treadwell Elementary. He later transferred to Bartlett High School as a senior, where he met the love of his life, Nancy Sawtelle and asked her to prom, luring her with a bag of fried fish. It must have worked, they later married and never parted until her death almost 50 years later.
Upon graduation from (then) Memphis State University, Mr. Hayslip began his career teaching and coaching at Bartlett High, Millington High, and Havenview Elementary before serving in principalships at Lucy School, Egypt Elementary, Riverdale, Germantown Middle, and Collierville High School. Mr. Hayslip ended his SCS career as Athletic Director and Public Relations Director.
Throughout his career, he received numerous awards including Shelby County Schools Administrator of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Collierville Educator of the Year. He was also named the TSSAA Athletic Administrator of the Year, as well as receiving The Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps Sportsmanship Award and being named to the Shelby County Hall of Fame.
Mr. Hayslip was a past President of several education associations, including the Shelby County Education Association and the Shelby County Principal’s Association. He was also a past Chairman of the Board for the Memphis Area Teacher’s Credit Union.
As a proud lifelong Tiger, Mr. Hayslip was inducted into the University of Memphis Athletic Hall of Fame, and also honored as the Outstanding Journalism Alumnus. He served as official scorekeeper for the Tiger basketball program for more than 50 years, retiring as the longest serving statistician in NCAA history. Mr. Hayslip was also recently inducted into the Memphis Amateur Athletics Sports Hall of Fame.
His love for antique cars was evident his entire life. Mr. Hayslip was a past President of the Memphis Old Time Car Club, the Mid-America Old Time Automobile Association, and the Mid-South Antique Automobile Club of America. He was affectionately known as ‘The Voice of MOTAA’ since, for decades, he announced the judging of the cars at MOTAA’s annual car show and swap meet.
We are thrilled to know ‘Paw’ is now cruising the pathways of paradise in an old red convertible, with the love of his life, Nancy by his side and a fresh bag of fried fish between them!
A Celebration of Life Service is planned for Monday, January 13th at 11am at Bartlett Baptist Church, with burial to follow.
