Julian "Jerry" Earl Baxter

He was born in Nashville on January 24, 1938 to Francis Gertrude Jackson Baxter and Julian Earl Baxter. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 34 years, Mitzi Bishop; daughter, Leslie “Lolly” Baxter; sons, Julian and Timothy Baxter; granddaughter Abigale Fulgrum. He is also survived by his sister, Norma Baxter Brown and her husband, Dave Brown.

Jerry graduated from David Lipscomb Academy and attended David Lipscomb College before moving to Los Angeles, California to work in banking. He moved to Aspen, Colorado to pursue his lifelong love of skiing. While in Aspen, he worked in the restaurant business managing notable establishments including the Red Onion.

In 1971, he returned to Nashville to open the Brass Scales as co-owner with Houston Thomas and Bill Hale which featured the first salad bar in the city. Jerry and Thomas later sold their 25% interests to Hale.

Jerry then partnered with John Haggard, owner of radio stations, to open Jerry’s namesake restaurant, Julian’s, in 1974 on West End Avenue. Julian’s later became Nashville’s first Mobile 4 Star restaurant. Business disagreements followed which resulted, years later, in Jerry securing half ownership in the restaurant.

After Julian’s, Jerry was hired by Houston and Dickie Thomas as general manager for Sperry’s where he remained for a decade; Sperry’s succeeded Brass Scales after it closed earlier in a building the Thomas family owned.

Then, in 1985-87, he joined Chef Deborah Paquette, Dano Goosetree and Randy Rayburn

managing Third Coast.

He was then recruited by Mitch Boyd, CEO of Shoney’s, to open PARGO stores across the South. He returned home to be manager of Sunset Grill with his best friend, Randy Rayburn, in 1993. In 1997, they bought Midtown Cafe where Jerry became managing partner until he retired a few years later to spend more time with his wife, Mitzi Bishop, and his second young son, Timothy Bishop Baxter. Jerry is lovingly remembered by the restaurant community and many customers.

Jerry founded Our Kids Soup Sunday in 1993, which will be held Sunday, March 2, as well as the Harvest Moon event (35 years ago), which is the largest fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Often mistaken in later years for Tony Bennett, Jerry spent his retirement years in support of his wife’s business, Bishop’s Salon in Bellevue, and spending time with his wife, children and granddaughter.