William Carl Jernigan, 94, of Birmingham, AL passed away peacefully at home on September 8, 2021. According to the Holy Scriptures that he cherished, for believers to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So we rejoice for our beloved husband, father and grandfather who has crossed into Paradise. Carl was the cornerstone of his family and a kind and gentle friend who will be deeply missed. He lived his life devoted to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and expanding God’s Kingdom. He embodied the ideals of his faith both personally and professionally.
Born April 2, 1927 in Atmore, Alabama to Thomas Homer and Sula Baas Jernigan, Carl grew up the youngest of four children. He spent his youth in Frisco City, Alabama where he attended local schools. He was married to the love of his life, Nancy Brittain Jernigan for 63 years. In 1945, he joined the Navy serving until 1949. After leaving the service he attended college at The University of Alabama earning a B.S in General Business. Later he served on the Board of Visitors for The nationally ranked Culverhouse College of Business. In his professional life, he put into practice the discipline, knowledge and work ethic he learned in the Navy, and from his tough and tender mother. He enjoyed successful manufacturing businesses with his brother, Tom, including Plantation Patterns, United Chair and Quick Mart. In the early 1980s he ventured into business for himself in the electric motor repair industry, taking on a struggling company, Cleveland Electric, and growing it into one of the most successful companies in the state. At Cleveland he discovered a love for industrial business and in 1984 founded Jay Electric. He grew Jay into a multimillion dollar electric motor repair company with corporate clients in dozens of states. Today Jay is still locally owned and operated and a thriving Alabama-based company. Additionally, he founded and developed Jernigan Properties a commercial real estate holdings company.
Civically and philanthropically, Carl had life-long involvement in the Birmingham community. He was a member and former President of the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, and a longtime regional board member of Southtrust Bank. Carl served as a National Council Representative and as President of The Birmingham area Council of The Boy Scouts of America. He played a significant role in the early development of the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital joining the board of trustees in 1970 and serving as Board Chair from 1978-1980. He was an active member of the ESFA Board from its inception in 1997 until 2009 when he was awarded the designation of Trustee Emeritus. He was an Advisory Board member of The Salvation Army and Campus Outreach and a longtime Elder of Briarwood Presbyterian Church. Carl was one of the earliest members of Shoal Creek Country Club and a member of The Country Club of Birmingham for over fifty years.
Carl’s life motto was To God Be The Glory, and he built his life around the things he loved…family, faith and freedom. Carl was a champion of the underdog and a great example of the American dream. He was generous, hard working, kind and compassionate. His wise counsel was sought often by many. Carl was a warrior for The Kingdom of God and never missed an opportunity to share the love of Jesus. He had a boldness for evangelism and walked out his devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Carl longed to see this nation hold fast to her Christian heritage and purpose. He will be remembered for his unbreakable will to see righteousness prevail in both The Church and the country he loved and served. He was fierce, faithful, dependable and steadfast in all of his endeavors and he leaves a mighty legacy of faith to his children and his children’s children. A doting husband and father, his children and grandchildren will forever treasure him as a strong source of love and guidance and an anchor in the storms of life. Of all of Carl’s accomplishments he will be most remembered for his passion for God’s word and his unwavering obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. For him to live was Christ and to die was gain. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Carl is preceded in death by his brother Ferrell Jernigan, sister Loretta Goodwin and brother Tom Jernigan. He is survived by his wife Nancy Brittain Jernigan and three children, Karen Wooten (Craig), Ann Jollit (Bill) and David Jernigan (Shannon); eight grandchildren, Lauren, Nick and Hope Howard, Grace Ann Hardison (Will), Sarah Bradford (Miller), Chloe Jernigan, Cole and Raines Jernigan; three great grandchildren, Owen and Ward Hardison and Brock Bradford.
A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday September 13, 2021 in the Worship Center of Briarwood Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his favorite charity The Salvation Army.
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