Jack Lawrence Giddens, Jr.
Jack Lawrence Giddens, Jr.
Jack Lawrence Giddens, Jr., husband of Mavis (Vaughn) Giddens, died at home in Estill Springs, TN, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
Jack was born May 30, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, to Jack Lawrence Giddens and Mary Margaret (Smith) Giddens. He attended Marion Military Institute and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. Following a career aboard ship that took him around the world, Jack was chosen for the first Defense Intelligence School and served as Assistant Naval Attaché in Lisbon, Portugal, followed by Naval Intelligence assignments in Istanbul, Turkey, Washington, D.C., and London, UK. These tours engendered a lifelong love of learning, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. Jack left government service in 1977 and earned his JD from Nashville School of Law. After several years in private practice in Lawrenceburg, TN, he found his calling with Legal Services Corporation (now Legal Aid) in their Tullahoma, TN, office. There, he married his love of people with his sense of fairness and humanity, helping community members who might otherwise go without legal representation. He remained in active practice there until his full retirement in 2001.
Post retirement, Jack served in a number of community volunteer roles: as a Meals on Wheels driver; a driver safety instructor with AARP; in various church activities including service as a deacon, an elder and visiting assisted living facilities with the SonRise Singers; and sharing his love of books (and storytelling) at the nonprofit Bookshelf in Tullahoma every Friday morning. He and Mavis traveled throughout retirement, both domestically and abroad. His love of Alabama and Navy football was only surpassed by his love of family and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister: Josephine Landrum; nephew; and nieces; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.
In addition to Mavis, his wife of 49 years, he is survived by sons: Richard Giddens (Nelia) and Marcus Giddens; daughters: Patricia Giddens Wright (Louis), Anne Giddens Clement and Margaret Giddens; grandchildren: River Elliot (Lauren), Summer Elliot, Richard Giddens, Jr. (Rosie), Ronald Giddens, Laylah Giddens; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Jack Lawrence Giddens, Jr., was held at First Christian Church in Tullahoma, TN on Saturday, October 14 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jack’s memory to First Christian Church or the Southern Poverty Law Center. Kilgore Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. The family would like to express its thanks to the team at Compassus Hospice for the loving care that Jack and they received.
