James Marion Wilhoite

James Marion Wilhoite, 76, retired Sports Editor for the Daily Herald and resident of Winding Way, died Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:30 P.M. at Grace Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Mark Lindstrom, Rev. Steve Boshers, Charles Troope, and John Pointer officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 3:00 - 7:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Sunday from 1:30 -2:30 P.M. at Grace Church.The family suggests memorials to Columbia State Community College Foundation for the Marion Wilhoite Scholarship, 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born June 9, 1941 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Colonel Clyde C. Wilhoite and the late Josephine Anderson Wilhoite. He attended local schools, McDowell Elementary, Whitthorne Junior High and graduated Columbia Central High School in 1959 and Columbia Business College in 1961. Having lived his first fourteen years on the Columbia Military Academy campus, he also had the benefit of being around his father and other faculty members at CMA for additional education. After high school graduation, Marion worked in various capacities for the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Dept. As activities supervisor, he was instrumental in organizing various youth basketball and recreational leagues. He began his fifty-four year career with The Daily Herald in February 1962, became Sports Editor on June 9, 1962, and served in that capacity until his retirement September 23, 2016. He also served as the coach of the Columbia State Community College women's softball from 1982 - 1984 including the Region 6 runner-up team in 1983. In 1972, Marion was appointed by Tennessee Amateur Softball Association Director Jack Spore as District 8 commissioner. During his softball career (1962-1966), he directed numerous youth and adult tournaments in Columbia including six Southeastern Region Tournaments, thirty-six State Tournaments, and seventy-six Invitationals. He also coached the 1984 ISA National Men's Class AA Championship Weather Tamer/McDonald's Carpet team. Marion was honored as State Prep Sportswriter of the Year by Lawrenceburg Quarterback Club in 1984 and inducted into the Columbia Babe Ruth League "Wall of Shame" in 1985. In 1995, the City of Columbia proclaimed Friday, September 22 as "Marion Wilhoite Day"; and in 2004, he was inducted as a charter member of the City of Columbia Parks & Recreation Department Hall of Fame and the Metro Region Hall of Fame in Nashville. In 2005, he was recognized in TSSAA Newsletter as a contributor through his coverage of high school sports; and in 2011, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Writers Hall of Fame at Cumberland University in Lebanon. In 2016, he was honored for fifty years of service to the Tennessee Press Association and received the Paul Harris Fellow honor from Columbia Noon Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Southwestern Middle Tennessee Board of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Marion was a member of Grace Church of the Nazarene. Marion was enthusiastic about life. Modest with his own accomplishments, he always strived to make a difference in other's lives. Marion always looked for the good in all people and wrote from his heart. Survivors include his wife whom he married May 7, 1976, Dorothy Clark Wilhoite of Columbia; son, Michael Glenn Wilhoite of Hendersonville; granddaughter, Brandy (Ray) James of Donelson; brothers, Clyde Courtney Wilhoite of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Andy (Debbie) Wilhoite of Columbia; sister, Susan W. Hunter of Columbia; two step great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his dear and devoted friend, Billy Keach, who behind the wheel carried him to hundreds, make that thousands of ball games, sporting events, concerts, and numerous states. Not to mention the many times to the Herald office and back and his coaching trips for the Columbia State women's softball. Oh yes, all of his grocery and other errands, too. Pallbearers will be Brent Wilhoite, Cameron Wilhoite, Johnny Littrell, Justin Lamb, Joe Wiley, John Zwengel, Charlie Poag, Gary Hendley, and David Schmidt. Honorary pallbearers will include former and current employees of The Daily Herald, former athletes that he coached, athletic departments of the schools he covered, Ben Gooch and other members of the local chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Charles Troope, Kevin Pickard, John Pointer, John Painter, Herschel Breenan, Roger "Dale" White, Harold "Moe" Grimes, Aaron Johns, Jim Dedman, Sam D. Kennedy, Keith Ponder, Tim Wood, Chris Fletcher, James Bennett, Harriet Campbell, Betty Stewart, Martha Jane Hines, Regina Symlar, Dawn Collins, Freddie Rich, Ned Rich, Melvin Mann, Buford Moss, Louis Conner, Larry Brewer, David Hall, Willie Morgan, Roger White, Gary Johnson, Stanley Wilson, Foxy Griffin, Al Clark Notgrass, Richard Young, Mickey McKeel, Jan McKeel, Larry Brown, Jim Huckaby, and Chip Walters.