H. Vernon Wilkes

Vernon "Coach" Wilkes left this life Saturday morning. He was doing what he loved most, fishing in a bass tournament with his wife of twenty-six years, Pam. He was 82.
Vernon was born and raised in Carrollton where he got one of his first jobs as a lifeguard, satisfying what would be a lifelong need to be near water. He graduated from Jacksonville State University and began his coaching career at Cobb High School. He returned to Carrollton to coach with Trojan Head Coach Charlie Grisham for 13 years. He later coached at Coosa High School, Jackson High School and then ultimately became Alexander High School's first head football coach. Vernon would want it written here that Coach Charlie Grisham was a father to him, a friend and a mentor and ultimately best man at his wedding in 1998.
Vernon enjoyed many coaching successes including Football Coach of the Year. He was a celebrated track and field coach with track team members who would go on to become Olympic hopefuls. He had bass fishing successes resulting in more tournament trophies than could be counted. But it was Vernon's relationships with other people in which he took the most pride. Whether you were someone he'd stop to chat with at Kroger where he'd go three times a week just to make a new acquaintance or to run into an old one, or whether you were one of many of his longtime friends just a few of whom include Verlon Best, Frank Worthy, the late Al Reaves, or one of whom he'd consider like a brother and his children like his own, Charlie Girrard, you were what Vernon treasured most.
Vernon once listened patiently while his sister tearfully and angrily told him about discovering something a mutual acquaintance had done decades ago. After she went quiet and the tears stopped and he was sure that she was finished, Vernon said, "Sister, there ain't no sense in you letting it hurt you two times." And that's the way Vernon lived his life: with so many good people in this life to lift you up, as they had him, it made no sense to him that anyone would fret over that one who had let them down.
Vernon was preceded in death by his mother Novie Wilkes, his father James Richard Wilkes, and is survived by his wife, Pam Wilkes, his brother, James Bernard Wilkes, and his sister, Nancy Luana Wilkes.
Visitation will be at Almon Funeral Home Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm and a service will be held at Tabernacle Baptist Church at 2 pm on Friday, March 8, 2024.
Interment will be in Carroll Memory Gardens with Allen Gaston, Lee Fidler, Bill Bailey, Trey Traylor, Bryant Wilson, Tyler Sabo, Jackie Hicks and Kirby Fidler serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Carrollton High School class of 1959, former players and the Carrollton Bass and Couples.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to a charity of choice.
Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com
Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.