Jared Daniel Childress

Jared Daniel Childress

November 19, 1986 – January 26, 2023

Jared Daniel Childress was lovingly welcomed into this world on November 19, 1986, at Kings Daughters Hospital in Greenville MS.

In July 1987, he and his family traveled up Hwy 61 (Blues Highway) to his new home in Collierville, TN (just outside Memphis TN). In 1993, he began his educational journey by walking down the street (with Tyrone, the basset hound) to Crosswinds Elementary and crossing the footbridge each day. It was there he fell in love with the world, it’s diverse people and all his teachers. He continued his early education into middle school, meeting new friends along the way.

In 2000, his odyssey continued when he relocated with his parents and sister, Kylie to Raleigh, NC. He attended Wake Forest Middle School and then the new Wakefield High School. He graduated from Wakefield in 2005. It was at Wakefield where he found his 3 Amigo’s. They became lifelong friends.

Jared followed his passion for cooking and made plans to attend culinary courses at Wake Tech. By the time he was 20, he knew his way around a kitchen in a grand way. He was his Mamaw Merle’s pride & joy and he cooked for her every chance he got. (She adored his Moon Pie Banana Pudding and his Red Velvet Cake.)

His passion for food eventually led him to his first dream job. Whole Foods offered him an opportunity in Houston TX. He held several positions in different stores and was a Buyer/Dept Manager when Whole Foods was acquired by Amazon and he chose to exit. As in TN and NC, he developed many close and endearing friends in Houston.

On Christmas day, 2019, he proudly announced that it was time for him to attend University. He set his sights on Economics (quite a surprise to us all), moved back to Memphis to attend Southwest Community College (using the TN Connect Program) and began his college academic career. He mastered both Advanced Calculus and Statistics via online learning due to the Covid shutdown…. and made the Dean’s List. He earned his Associate Business Degree in May, 2021…..All the while, working as a leasing consultant at Fogelman.

After researching business schools across the country, he applied to his top 4 choices, was accepted by all four and he chose the Prestigious Gary W Rollings College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to pursue a B.A. in Economics. He packed his car and headed to Chattanooga.

In the kind words of his Hutton family “He was not just our coworker but friend. Jared joined Hutton part time as an intern in August 2021 while attending UTC full time, transitioning to a full time Property Management Associate in June 2022.”

Jared completed his earthly journey on Thursday, January 26, 2023.

Jared was a chef, musician, writer, founder of the Llama’s, brother, uncle, godparent, cousin, friend, coworker, and beloved son/grandson.

Jared lived life in a way few ever have the courage to follow. He had a poet’s soul and a kind heart.

Jared is predeceased by his Maternal Grandparents, Wooten and Frances Morris, his Paternal Grandparents, Gerald and Merle Childress, an Aunt, Ann Morris Farrow, Uncle’s, Major John Morris and Craig King. His adopted Uncle, Coach Don Davis. His beloved fur family, Tyrone, Smokey, Bear, Levi and Lucy.

Left to cherish his life and keep his memory alive are his parents, Danny and Fran Childress, his sisters, Ashley and Kylie Childress, Kirsten, Clark, Charley Kate, Uncle Randy, Aunt Monica, Wes, Ericka, Finley, Ellie, Ali, Hunter, Tyler, his Uncle Kenneth (especially his biscuits), his beloved Aunt Marie (especially her potato salad), Aunt Lynn, Uncle Donald, Aunt Judy, his many loving cousins, Mrs. Barbara, Pam, Tammy, TD, The 3 Amigo’s, Karen Hutton, Brandy Chadwick and many Huttonites, his UTC Moc family, his longtime Fogelman Family, his beloved fur family, Princess, Dottie, Belle, Kitty Kat, Gray Charles, Dinky Dan and a host of loving friends he found on his journey.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the Gary W Rollins School of Business have announced that they will award Jared Daniel Childress an Honorary Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

Jared lovingly chose cremation and will join his grandparents at Columbia Hill Cemetery & Roberts Cemetery, his beloved Big Cypress Lodge and his favorite spot in Columbia, the Scenic Ouachita River.

May his kind and loving spirit flow forever.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023, 10 AM at the Historic Columbia Methodist Church, 501 Church Street, in Columbia Louisiana.

A Celebration of his Life will be held at his family’s gathering place, the former Maple Hill Smokehouse, 181 Smoke House Road (off Hwy 165), Kelly LA at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the CHATT (Center for Homeless Advancement for Today and Tomorrow) Foundation, Chattanooga TN. Visit Chattfoundation.org or call 423-756-4222.