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Gaylord Perry Obituary
Gaffney – Gaylord J. Perry, 84, of 402 East Buford Street, peacefully passed away on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at his home.
Born in Williamston, NC, he was the husband of Deborah Lee White Perry and the son of the late James Evan Perry Sr. and Ruby Martin Coletrane.
Mr. Perry had a professional baseball program that spanned twenty-six years with twenty-two of those being spent in Major League Baseball with eight different teams. His number 36 was retired by the San Francisco Giants in 2005 and a bronze statue of Gaylord was placed outside of the stadium dedicated in 2016. He was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
In 1986, Gaylord was hired by Limestone College to pioneer its baseball program. After helping to get the field made and team recruited, he stayed on to coach the inaugural team for four more seasons.
Gaylord was a graduate of Williamston High School in Williamston, NC and attended Campbell College in Buies Creek, NC. Also, he was a proud veteran of the United States Army and attended Sardis United Methodist Church after moving back to Gaffney.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Perry is survived by his three children, Amy Espaillat (Francisco), Allison Perry, and Elizabeth Long; three step-children, Gwen Garner O'Neal (Bobby), Jonathan Cummings, and Nicholas Cummings (Rachel); ten grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Perry was preceded in death by his first wife, Blanche Manning Perry, and a son, Jack Perry.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the Perry Residence, 402 E. Buford St, Gaffney. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at 2:00 pm in the Camp-Swofford Chapel of Limestone University with Rev. Paul Garrett and Dr. Tom LeGrande officiating. Interment will follow at Oakland Cemetery.
The family will be at the residence.
The Book of Memories is available at www.gordonmortuary.com.
The Gaffney location of Gordon Mortuary is serving the Perry family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gaylord Perry
Robert Jones
December 15, 2023
Dear Perry family,
Very sorry about Gaylord. He was a great pitcher along with Jim. Wish the Cubs had them !
Regards,
Robert Jones
Bloomingdale, IL.
Charles Dailey
June 14, 2023
Rest In Peace, venerable one.
December 8, 2022
Sincerest condolences for loss. May God grant you a sense of peace and comfort as you grieve.
Dean Leiby
December 5, 2022
Just a young fan when Gaylord came to Cleveland. But quickly became my favorite all-time. Very sad day but he brought a lot of joy. Thanks for sharing him!
- Dean
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Pete Lieggi
December 5, 2022
Rest in Peace Gaylord, you were a great pitcher, I wish I could of been!
Peter
Eddie Watkins
December 4, 2022
Gaylord Thank you for Making a young Kid Happy in the seventy's I was In a Foster Home (Jones Home in Cleveland ohio) My life Was Hard For Me for being in Foster Care But one Of Happiness Was When My House Perent My Alan Bidwell would Take Me To Watch Gayord Pitch on Three Different Occasions Gaylord toss His Warm Up Ball To Me ,twenty Years Later I Wrote A Letter Of Thank you and What Happiness That Gaylord Did For A young Kid Gayord Wrote Me back WOW Twenty Years later Gaylord Made My life Happy Again So God Bless ps Gaylord never lost when I watch Him pitch Thank you again your friend always Eddie Watkins
Mark Anderson
December 3, 2022
I met Gaylord at 17, and little did I realize that that would be the beginning of a friendship that would last for 46 years. Gaylord was a friend and he was more than just a ball player to me... He and I had discussions that covered the gamut. It is because of him that I am who I am. Amy, Beth, and Allison - - I´m so sorry for your loss right now. There are no words that I can say that can really comfort you. I wish you guys peace at this time and pray that your grief I´ll bring blessings that you can´t see right now. May your father rest in peace and may you have peace.
Mark Anderson
December 3, 2022
Gaylord was a friend for many years. My condolences to Amy, Beth, and Allison at his passing. Your dad was a special man, on amd off the field. Wish I could join you as he’s laid to rest but not possible. God’s peace be yours as you grieve his loss.
Marshall Ray/Raien Glover
December 3, 2022
Mr Perry was more then a Great pitcher he was a great man I remember the day him and Blanch went to my mom & Dad Mr and ms Glover and asked them if they could adopt me from them he was the best father figure a young boy could ever have a great idol I grew up with on the ranch in Williamstown NC he taught me about growing soy beans,cotton,tobacco and of course he taught me about world famous Gaylord Perry peanuts. And he showed me what the love of a father really was. I missed you dad I really miss you and Jack.. from Your son Marshall Ray/Raien Glover.living in San Diego.
Alishia
December 2, 2022
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Don Cohn
December 2, 2022
I have been a SF Giants fan since 1958. I've met Gaylord many times, mostly in AZ during spring training. Not only a unique baseball player, but a man who is easy to talk with. He and Deb and my wife and I had a few meals together, usually followed by an ice cream cone in Old Town Scottsdale. His legacy will be forever lasting. Prayers go out to his family. Don from Yosemite.
a fan
December 1, 2022
my memories of mr. perry was when i was in 6th grade my teacher surprised me with complete team individual black and white still photos with the -indians-logo of the entire team of every cleveland indians player in 1973 with everyone of them personalized autographed included of course was mr. perrys with a very nice personal -best wishes- your friend-.... was traded after the 71 season in the off season for sudden sam mcdowell. he had won his 1st of 2 cy young award going 24-16---- in this same package of photos was a cassette recording interview from which my teachers father was one of the broadcasters for the indians and was -very cool- when he mentioned my name and the name of my school and class.....i still have these photos..though i had never seen him pitch in person i had seen him pitch starting with the giants than indians and several other teams he had pitched for on nbcs baseballs game of the week..me being a diehard baseball fan was in shock and awe receiving those team photos and have never forgot my teacher and that day. ironically my neighbor behind where i had lived had known the both gaylord and jim perry where they were from williamston nc.....great memories from one of the workhorse type of a pitcher in which we will never again see our lifetime...gaylord your pitching and personality with live forever in the game of baseball
Kevin Young
December 1, 2022
Our thoughts to you all - we are so very sorry for your loss. I was fortunate to see Gaylord pitch which is something I will never forget. Thank You for sharing him with all of us.
Tricia Stalls
December 1, 2022
A great legend. RIP Gaylord. He is my 2nd cousin and grew up in the area I live in now. We've always been so proud of his accomplishments. Prayers for Jim and all the family at this time.
Peggy Crawley
December 1, 2022
Chatted with Gaylord and his wife after dinner at The Angus Barn in Raleigh, NC. probably in the late 1900s. Such a charming couple. So sorry to hear of his death. During his lifetime he brought such joy and excitement to the game of baseball.
David M Molloy
December 1, 2022
To the Perry Family,
Please accept my Condolences on the passing of Gaylord. He was a great competitor and a leader.
My Best
David M Molloy
Troy Néw York
MARK ENNIS
December 1, 2022
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO YOU ALL NOW, FOREVER AND ALWAYS
December 1, 2022
This one hurts. An all-time favorite, dating back to his days with the Giants. Tough competitor, remarkable talent, baseball man through and through, and what a great character. Oh, and he was a bit "creative" too!
"Shenanigans" aside, some of his worthy Hall of Fame career numbers include: 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts, 5350 innings pitched, 21,953 batters faced, 1.181 WHIP, and a 3.11 ERA. 22 years in the bigs, with 8 teams. Plus, 2 Cy Young Awards. In addition to his ability to strike out batters, he was a master at getting batters to hit into the ground ball/double play out(s). His statue stands conspicuously and proudly, in front of the stadium in San Francisco. Gaylord loved the Giants, he represented the team and the game beautifully, and the Giants and Bay Area loved him back.
Rest in peace, Gaylord. In your memory, and as a testament to how you felt about the Grand Old Game, we remember a famous quote of yours:
"The trouble with baseball is that it is not played the year round."
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