James Gerald McCracken, Sr.

James Gerald McCracken, Sr., 80, of Bartlett, passed away on May 13, 2013. He was preceded in death by his sons James “Jerry” Gerald McCracken, Jr., and Kenneth “Kenny” Whitson McCracken, and sister Martha Zane Holland Bernhart. Mr. McCracken is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Faye Berryhill McCracken, grandchild James Gerald McCracken III “Trey” and his fiancé Wendy Hodges, step-grandchildren Chase, Seth, and Hannah Jewell, great-grandchildren, Brittany Faye McCracken , Triston Lane McCracken, Bailey Brianne McCracken, and Bella Rose McCracken, sister Bonnie Jo Stephens (Winston), brothers and sisters-in-law John Bernhart, Lonnie and Joyce Edwards, Ken and Pat Berryhill, and Randy and Susie Berryhill, and many many nieces and nephews whom he loved. Mr. McCracken was a member at McLean Baptist Church; he loved to deep-sea fish and travel. He was very good at spoiling his wife whom he met in high school. He graduated from Memphis Tech High School in 1951 and went into the Insurance business for the majority of his career. He won many awards for his work and was always a company leader. He was one of the owners and founders of Citywide Mortgage in Tampa, FL., with offices in 17 locations throughout the U.S. After retirement he went back to work in insurance and worked up until his death. Family will receive friends from 5-8pm on Thursday, May 16 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd. There will be a funeral on Friday at 2pm also at the funeral home.