Thomas Wesley Scruggs, Jr., "Sonny", passed away peacefully on August 8, 2025. Sonny was a 1957 graduate of Christian Brothers High School and received both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from Memphis State University. He was an educator at heart with a career in teaching and administration that spanned over 30 years. He left indelible marks on students in the parochial schools, at Christian Brothers High School, and in the Memphis City School System. Many also knew him as "Coach" as he could be found on the football and track sidelines.

Sonny was an avid sports fan, a cast member of numerous local musical theater productions and a gracious dinner party host where he excelled in planning and preparing unforgettable meals. A connoisseur of barbecue, Sonny was a master of the smoker and a seeker of the perfect rib. He could be found tending the grill in his backyard or on the banks of the Mississippi River during the Memphis in May Barbeque Fest. Thomas "Sonny" Scruggs was a 2016 inductee to the Christian Brothers High School Hall of Fame. He was a member of The Highland Hundred and supported the Memphis Tiger Football Team all while cheering on his son who played fullback, Jeremy Scruggs. In his later years he completed the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Program and thoroughly enjoyed time planting and harvesting in his backyard beds. He and his late wife, Janie Scruggs, traveled extensively with friends and created unforgettable memories.

Sonny was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Judith Anderson Scruggs in 1989 and his second wife, Janie McGee Scruggs in 2022; his parents, Gladys Inez Scruggs & Thomas Wesley Scruggs, Sr.; his son, Jeremy Sean Scruggs; his brother, Kenneth Scruggs. He leaves behind his daughter, Wesley Anne Scruggs Wade (Matt); his brother, Danny Scruggs (Joyce); his nieces, Ashley Aldridge (Brad) and Amanda Diveley (Jim); his nephew, Marty Scruggs (Cathy) and four beautiful grandchildren, Andrew Wade, Anna Kate Wade, Adam Wade and Rose Vollmar.

Visitation be held at St. Michael Church 3867 Summer Avenue, Memphis, TN on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 9:00 and a funeral Mass will follow at 10:00. Interment will be at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN.

Memorials may be made to Birthright of Memphis, 115 Alexander St., Memphis, TN, 38111 or at birthrightofmemphis.org.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Daily Memphian on Aug. 11, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Scruggs

Sponsored by Memphis Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens.

11 Entries

Jay Johnson

August 13, 2025

The priest who said the mass certainly did an outstanding job of giving you credit for being such a fantastic person, coach and educator.

Lawrence s Facelli

August 13, 2025

Sonny and I go back many many years, one year behind me, at St. Mary's School and Christan Brothers, lived on same street growing up, Mosby Street Our families were close. Back during the WWII, Fr. Remy went down to the radio station and prayed the Rosary, we would gather at ones house for a week, it was called 'The Block Rosary.'
Moved to Rock Hill, SC , 55 years ago.

Barry Stewart

August 12, 2025

One of my most enduring memories of Coach Scruggs was a speech he gave during a school football Pep Rally in my junior year. His speech revolved around the statement "Are YOU Going To Be The HAMMER, or the Nail!" He knocked the ball out of the park! The crowd was chanting into the hallways back to class. I still use that statement to motivate myself and others. Rest In Peace Coach.. Barry Stewart ('70)

Debora Moss

August 12, 2025

Condolences to the family of Coach Scruggs. He is dearly remembered by the students of East High School, as gentle, kind and strong.

Brent Gatti

August 11, 2025

May he rest in peace. Sonny taught me at Holy Rosary in1965 and followed us to CBHS in the fall of 65. Was a good influence on me.

Paul Hanson

August 11, 2025

Sonny was a CBHS classmate and friend of mine. Never saw him "down", he was a positive, upbeat person, always a pleasure to be around. Sincerely regret we lost touch after graduation, he obviously accomplished a lot in his time here, and surely will be missed by many.

Lawrence Callahan

August 11, 2025

Coach Scruggs was head coach of our Freshman football team in 1969 at CBHS. He taught us to be agile, mobile and hostile. And he taught us to be gracious in victory. And victory was expected. I thank him for teaching young men how to compete and win.

Pat Dugan

August 11, 2025

A more caring soul you will never meet. RIP my friend

Tom Adair Sr

August 11, 2025

God bless you Coach Sonny. May your soul rest in peace.

Tim Parks

August 11, 2025

Coach Scruggs was an influential leader to me at both Immaculate Conception grade school and at CBHS. I can still hear him say "drop down and gimme 10". He will be greatly missed.