Jackie "Jack" Chaffin

Jackie Wade Chaffin “Jack”-age 80 of Gallatin went to heaven on July 10, 2024. He was born on August 13,1943 in Mount Pleasant, TN to Richard and Edith (Skillern) Chaffin.

He was a graduate of Cumberland High School where his classmates voted him “Bachelor of Ugliness” (also known as Mr. Cumberland); he received this honor with his future wife, Brenda, as she was named Miss Cumberland. He was President of his Senior Class; actually, he was Class President several years throughout school. He played football, basketball and baseball in high school. After high school, he attended Columbia Military Academy. He then went to Vanderbilt University for a year and was a multi-sport athlete while there. He finally landed at Western Kentucky University and played baseball there. He was drafted out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2021, he was inducted into the Nashville Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame; he was very proud of this honor. His love of sports continued into adulthood being a season ticket holder for Vanderbilt football and basketball and also attending baseball games. He played church softball for many years with some of his best friends. 

Jackie was a member of Hendersonville Church of Christ for over 40 years and was a deacon for 25 years. He and Brenda formed some of their closest friendships with couples they met there. Those friendships consisted of their One Heart group, the Birthday Club and their travel group.

Jackie enjoyed a long distinguished career in the insurance consulting industry, consulting with community banks across Tennessee. He was Vice President of Earl R. Whaley and Company for almost 50 years. He considered the Whaley’s and all of the employees of the company as part of his family. He and Brenda enjoyed trips and company functions with his coworkers. They got to see different parts of the United States and other parts of the world through the company. He enjoyed the relationships formed with the bankers and considered them friends.

Jackie was loved by everyone he knew. He always had a smile on his face and his kindness and compassion for others was unmatched. He loved his family more than anything. He and Brenda loved traveling with friends and coworkers, but their favorite vacation spot was the beach with the whole family. When the grandchildren came along, they wanted to take the whole family to the beach every summer, which they did until Brenda’s passing in 2015. Eric’s and Shannon’s family have continued that tradition. The grandkids are so close and that is a testament to Jackie and Brenda pouring into them and spending time together as a family. Jackie’s 5 grandchildren were his pride and joy; he would light up when he talked about them and their accomplishments. Then Leon Jack came along (his 1st great grandchild), who was named after Jackie; he brought so much joy to Jackie’s life since his birth in September of 2021. Jackie was an inspiration to all of us and he truly loved and followed God throughout his life.

Preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Brenda Milligan Chaffin; his parents, Richard and Edith Chaffin; his in-laws, Hoyte and Nell Milligan; and his brother, James (Jim) Chaffin. Survived by a son, Eric (Kyndra) Chaffin; a daughter Shannon (Shane) Starks; his 5 grandchildren, Jake and Kaylor Chaffin and Connor (Taryn), Abigail and Barrett Starks; a great grandchild, Leon Jack Starks; and his sister-in-law, Edna (Tootsie) Chaffin.

Pallbearers are Billy Griggs, Ronnie Webb, Mike Ryan, Pat Raymer, Earl Whaley, Jr., Rick Shelton, Robbie Parrish and Doug Jones. Honorary pallbearers are Earl Whaley, Sr., the staff at Vitality Senior Living and friends of the family.

The family would like to thank the staff at Vitality Senior Living and Aveanna Hospice for the love and care shown to Jackie over the past 2 ½ years. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jeremy Pete Parker Scholarship Fund at Freed-Hardeman University (please send donations to the Hendersonville Church of Christ, 107 Rockland Road, Hendersonville, TN 37075). 

Service will be held on Monday, July 22nd at 11am at Hendersonville Church of Christ with Keith Parker officiating. Visitation will begin at 10am. A visitation will be held on Sunday, July 21st from 4-8pm at Hendersonville Memorial Gardens.