The fruitful life of Edward Carl Finley came to an end, Monday October 4, 1976, at Parkview Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee. Edward C. Finley the son of Edward C. Finley, Sr. and Minnie Ware Finley, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on the 12th day of February 1912.
He received his elementary and high school education in the public schools of St. Louis, Missouri; his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Fisk University; pursued further study at Atlanta University, Middle Tennessee State University and Iowa State University.
Professor Finley, as he was affectionately called by his many students and friends taught in the Bedford County school system for 17 years, served as principal of Bell Buckle Elementary School for 5 years; taught in the Metropolitan School System of Nashville for 23 years; served as football coach at Bedford County Training School, Wharton Junior High School and Assistant coach at Antioch High. He also served as track coach in both junior and senior high schools. In 1974 he retired from the Metropolitan School System of Nashville. At his death, he was employed by the City of Shelbyville in the Community Development Department in the area of Rehabilitation and Codes Enforcement. He was a member of the Shelbyville Planning Commission.
He was a member of Woodfork Chapel A.M.E. Church where he served as a trustee, a member of the Steward Board, and Organist for the Senior Choir. He was president of the Laymans Organization of the 13th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church and a former member of the General Board of the A.M.E. Church.
He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Masonic Lodge serving as Worshipful Master of Charity Lodge No. 82, First Lieutenant of Tullahoma Consistory No. 85, a Shriner of Hella Temple No. 105, and the Supreme Council No. 33.
On May 29, 1941, he was united in holy wedlock to Ruth McGill who now survives. He leaves to cherish his memory a wife, Mrs. Ruth McGill Finley; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Sam L. King, Mrs. George Chrite, Mrs. James E. McGill, Mrs. Alfred Riley, Mrs. Alfonso B. Patton, Mrs. Maceo B. Thompson, Mrs. Kermit Allen, Mrs. Willie L. Daniels and Mrs. Rachel McGill; brother-in-law, Thomas McGill; dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Woods and many other devoted friends.
His death certificate was issued by the state of Michigan.
He will best be remembered as Coach Finley, who guided the Bedford County Training School Tigers during the majority of their glory years from 1943-1950 when the Tigers played 82 games without defeat. The accepted record shows 78 victories and four ties during that period. Coach Finley actually served as football coach from 1937 through the 1948 season. He always maintained the BCTS record may have extended beyond those 82 games without defeat and possibly it did, but adequate records could not be located to either prove or disprove his theories on the subject.
One of his fondest recollections of BCTS was the fact that Fighting Tigers opponents failed to cross the 50 yard line for three consecutive years. This 82 game winning streak still stands to this date.
Patton Brothers Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.
He received his elementary and high school education in the public schools of St. Louis, Missouri; his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Fisk University; pursued further study at Atlanta University, Middle Tennessee State University and Iowa State University.
Professor Finley, as he was affectionately called by his many students and friends taught in the Bedford County school system for 17 years, served as principal of Bell Buckle Elementary School for 5 years; taught in the Metropolitan School System of Nashville for 23 years; served as football coach at Bedford County Training School, Wharton Junior High School and Assistant coach at Antioch High. He also served as track coach in both junior and senior high schools. In 1974 he retired from the Metropolitan School System of Nashville. At his death, he was employed by the City of Shelbyville in the Community Development Department in the area of Rehabilitation and Codes Enforcement. He was a member of the Shelbyville Planning Commission.
He was a member of Woodfork Chapel A.M.E. Church where he served as a trustee, a member of the Steward Board, and Organist for the Senior Choir. He was president of the Laymans Organization of the 13th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church and a former member of the General Board of the A.M.E. Church.
He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Masonic Lodge serving as Worshipful Master of Charity Lodge No. 82, First Lieutenant of Tullahoma Consistory No. 85, a Shriner of Hella Temple No. 105, and the Supreme Council No. 33.
On May 29, 1941, he was united in holy wedlock to Ruth McGill who now survives. He leaves to cherish his memory a wife, Mrs. Ruth McGill Finley; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Sam L. King, Mrs. George Chrite, Mrs. James E. McGill, Mrs. Alfred Riley, Mrs. Alfonso B. Patton, Mrs. Maceo B. Thompson, Mrs. Kermit Allen, Mrs. Willie L. Daniels and Mrs. Rachel McGill; brother-in-law, Thomas McGill; dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Woods and many other devoted friends.
His death certificate was issued by the state of Michigan.
He will best be remembered as Coach Finley, who guided the Bedford County Training School Tigers during the majority of their glory years from 1943-1950 when the Tigers played 82 games without defeat. The accepted record shows 78 victories and four ties during that period. Coach Finley actually served as football coach from 1937 through the 1948 season. He always maintained the BCTS record may have extended beyond those 82 games without defeat and possibly it did, but adequate records could not be located to either prove or disprove his theories on the subject.
One of his fondest recollections of BCTS was the fact that Fighting Tigers opponents failed to cross the 50 yard line for three consecutive years. This 82 game winning streak still stands to this date.
Patton Brothers Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.
The fruitful life of Edward Carl Finley came to an end, Monday October 4, 1976, at Parkview Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee. Edward C. Finley the son of Edward C. Finley, Sr. and Minnie Ware Finley, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on the 12th day of February 1912.
He received his elementary and high school education in the public schools of St. Louis, Missouri; his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Fisk University; pursued further study at Atlanta University, Middle Tennessee State University and Iowa State University.
Professor Finley, as he was affectionately called by his many students and friends taught in the Bedford County school system for 17 years, served as principal of Bell Buckle Elementary School for 5 years; taught in the Metropolitan School System of Nashville for 23 years; served as football coach at Bedford County Training School, Wharton Junior High School and Assistant coach at Antioch High. He also served as track coach in both junior and senior high schools. In 1974 he retired from the Metropolitan School System of Nashville. At his death, he was employed by the City of Shelbyville in the Community Development Department in the area of Rehabilitation and Codes Enforcement. He was a member of the Shelbyville Planning Commission.
He was a member of Woodfork Chapel A.M.E. Church where he served as a trustee, a member of the Steward Board, and Organist for the Senior Choir. He was president of the Laymans Organization of the 13th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church and a former member of the General Board of the A.M.E. Church.
He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Masonic Lodge serving as Worshipful Master of Charity Lodge No. 82, First Lieutenant of Tullahoma Consistory No. 85, a Shriner of Hella Temple No. 105, and the Supreme Council No. 33.
On May 29, 1941, he was united in holy wedlock to Ruth McGill who now survives. He leaves to cherish his memory a wife, Mrs. Ruth McGill Finley; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Sam L. King, Mrs. George Chrite, Mrs. James E. McGill, Mrs. Alfred Riley, Mrs. Alfonso B. Patton, Mrs. Maceo B. Thompson, Mrs. Kermit Allen, Mrs. Willie L. Daniels and Mrs. Rachel McGill; brother-in-law, Thomas McGill; dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Woods and many other devoted friends.
His death certificate was issued by the state of Michigan.
He will best be remembered as Coach Finley, who guided the Bedford County Training School Tigers during the majority of their glory years from 1943-1950 when the Tigers played 82 games without defeat. The accepted record shows 78 victories and four ties during that period. Coach Finley actually served as football coach from 1937 through the 1948 season. He always maintained the BCTS record may have extended beyond those 82 games without defeat and possibly it did, but adequate records could not be located to either prove or disprove his theories on the subject.
One of his fondest recollections of BCTS was the fact that Fighting Tigers opponents failed to cross the 50 yard line for three consecutive years. This 82 game winning streak still stands to this date.
Patton Brothers Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.
He received his elementary and high school education in the public schools of St. Louis, Missouri; his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Fisk University; pursued further study at Atlanta University, Middle Tennessee State University and Iowa State University.
Professor Finley, as he was affectionately called by his many students and friends taught in the Bedford County school system for 17 years, served as principal of Bell Buckle Elementary School for 5 years; taught in the Metropolitan School System of Nashville for 23 years; served as football coach at Bedford County Training School, Wharton Junior High School and Assistant coach at Antioch High. He also served as track coach in both junior and senior high schools. In 1974 he retired from the Metropolitan School System of Nashville. At his death, he was employed by the City of Shelbyville in the Community Development Department in the area of Rehabilitation and Codes Enforcement. He was a member of the Shelbyville Planning Commission.
He was a member of Woodfork Chapel A.M.E. Church where he served as a trustee, a member of the Steward Board, and Organist for the Senior Choir. He was president of the Laymans Organization of the 13th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church and a former member of the General Board of the A.M.E. Church.
He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Masonic Lodge serving as Worshipful Master of Charity Lodge No. 82, First Lieutenant of Tullahoma Consistory No. 85, a Shriner of Hella Temple No. 105, and the Supreme Council No. 33.
On May 29, 1941, he was united in holy wedlock to Ruth McGill who now survives. He leaves to cherish his memory a wife, Mrs. Ruth McGill Finley; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Sam L. King, Mrs. George Chrite, Mrs. James E. McGill, Mrs. Alfred Riley, Mrs. Alfonso B. Patton, Mrs. Maceo B. Thompson, Mrs. Kermit Allen, Mrs. Willie L. Daniels and Mrs. Rachel McGill; brother-in-law, Thomas McGill; dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Woods and many other devoted friends.
His death certificate was issued by the state of Michigan.
He will best be remembered as Coach Finley, who guided the Bedford County Training School Tigers during the majority of their glory years from 1943-1950 when the Tigers played 82 games without defeat. The accepted record shows 78 victories and four ties during that period. Coach Finley actually served as football coach from 1937 through the 1948 season. He always maintained the BCTS record may have extended beyond those 82 games without defeat and possibly it did, but adequate records could not be located to either prove or disprove his theories on the subject.
One of his fondest recollections of BCTS was the fact that Fighting Tigers opponents failed to cross the 50 yard line for three consecutive years. This 82 game winning streak still stands to this date.
Patton Brothers Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.
Gravesite Details
Death certificate issued by the state of Michigan. Husband of Ruth McGill Finley.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
