Bradley County, TN – Bradley County school teacher, Jerry Frazier died early Tuesday morning from complications associated with Covid-19. Frazier spent time as a school teacher, as well as a principal, coach, and superintendent. Most recently, he was serving on the Bradley County school board.
“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Jerry Frazier,” the Bradley County School Board tweeted on Tuesday.
On December 7, Frazier was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with Covid-19. His passing seems to have come from complications related with the virus. Dr. Linda Cash, the director of schools issued a statement on Wednesday to alert the community of Frazier’s passing.
In the statement, Cash said, “Jerry Frazier was kind, caring, a respected leader, as well as an advocate for students and educators. His tenacity and steadfast resolve in fighting for equity for teachers and students will remain his legacy. Mr. Jerry Frazier was a passionate champion of Bradley County Schools and his loss leaves a void that will never be filled. May we all remember the impact that he had in transforming Bradley County Schools.”
He was part of the Bradley County school systems before he even started his career, as he graduated from Bradley Central High School. Frazier began teaching at Bradley Central High School in 1970 and he remained there until 1996. On top of serving as a teacher at Bradley Central, he also acted as a coach and principal throughout his career. He even served as an administrator, at the high school level as well as the elementary level.
In 1999, he left his principal job at Charleston High School to spend a decade teaching in Georgia. When he came back to Bradley County, he was elected to serve on the school board. He was currently serving in his second term.
The Mayor of Cleveland, Kevin Brooks, took to Twitter on Tuesday to share a few kind words about the Bradley County educator. “He was a great man and a great friend to me and many more. He made Bradley County a better place for all of our kids.”
School officials also released a statement, calling Frazier a man of faith and wishing the best for his family. “Mr. Frazier was an education icon who devoted his life to the betterment of the students in Bradley County. He was a true public servant in every aspect of the word and was loved by all who knew him.”
Bradley County Commissioners posted on their social media pages about Frazier’s passing, and asked members of the community to keep his family in their thoughts and prayers. “Jerry, 7th District Bradley County School Board member and longtime educator, will be sorely missed by this commission and the community as a whole,” read the statement.
The statement released by Bradley County Schools ended by saying, “Mr. Jerry Frazier was a passionate champion of Bradley County Schools and his loss leaves a void that will never be filled. May we all remember the impact that he had in transforming Bradley County Schools.”
