Obituary

Coach William A. “Moose” Perry, Jr.

October 7, 1944-August 10, 2024

Coach Bill Perry was born October 7, 1944, in Meridian, Mississippi to William A. Perry, Sr. and Ann (Wright) Perry. The family relocated to Jackson in 1952. That fall Coach enrolled in the third grade at Poindexter Elementary School. The Perrys attended St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

Coach attended Enochs Jr. High and Central High School. Before graduating from Central he was active in both the Chess Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

His coaching career began at age 14 when he noticed a group of third-sixth grade boys playing baseball outside the old Boys Club, located on Hiawatha Street in mid-town Jackson. It was at the Boys Club that volunteer coach Skeeter Hart gave Coach Perry the nickname that would last a lifetime…” Moose” …because he was told he needed a nickname of something “big” to scare opponents.

After initial stops as an assistant coach at Provine and Jackson Central, he arrived at Forest Hill High School in 1970 as Head Coach. In just four years, he built a tremendously competitive team…. culminating with the State AA Championship in 1974. Among his many honors, in 1975 he was named “Coach of the Year” by the Mississippi Association of Sports Writers, as well as “Coach of the Year” by the Mississippi Association of Coaches.”

His final record as a high school coach was out of 667 games played, he ended with 480 wins and 187 losses. And he only missed TWO school days in his 50+ career as a teacher!

Despite his incredible coaching record, his greatest achievement was the impact he made on players, students, fellow church members, and friends. His ministry included serving as Pastor of Timberlawn Baptist Church, Pastor of Learned Baptist, and founding Lamb of God Ministries.

Coach Perry taught, nurtured, and encouraged several players that later made it to “The Big Show” in the major league. But he would quickly tell you that his most memorable relationships came from people he had led to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus. Notes and testimonies have been flowing in daily from people that he helped…and no one knew!

Coach Perry never married and had no immediate survivors. But his “family” are the literal thousands who have been touched by his generosity, the sharing of his faith, the money he slipped in needy people’s hand, and his wry smile.

He requested that any memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN in memory of Coach William “Moose” Perry.

His cousin, Annell Holland, and his extended family would like to recognize and say thank you for the incredible care he was given in his last months by the staff of Highland Home, and PAX Hospice.