Jerry Earle Windham, 84, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2024, at Sanctuary Hospice in Tupelo, MS. Born May 10, 1940, in Jackson, Jerry received his early education in the Jackson Public Schools at Duling Elementary, Bailey Junior High and Murrah High School. During his youth, he attended St. Luke’s Methodist Church. Jerry was proud to be a member of the first Murrah class (1958) to start 10th grade and graduate there. He was an early participant in sports with brothers Billy and Tommy, and excelled at football and baseball while at Murrah. He also greatly enjoyed playing for championship teams with the American Legion Mississippi Valley Gassers. Jerry was a 1962 graduate of Mississippi State, where he majored in business and industry and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He earned academic honors membership in ODK, Phi Eta Sigma and Scabbard & Blade.
Jerry was commissioned as a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant upon completion of ROTC at State. He proudly served six years in the Intelligence Branch and ultimately attained the rank of Captain. His military service included tours in Germany and Vietnam. While in Frankfurt, Germany, Jerry met and married Helga Weiss, who worked as a translator for the U.S. Army. Following military service, Jerry and Helga traveled internationally during his 28-year employment with Arthur Andersen as an auditor and partner in the firm. They resided in Quayaquil, Ecuador; Lisbon, Portugal; and Geneva, Switzerland while Jerry was assigned to audit Arthur Andersen offices throughout the world. Following their retirement to Chicago in 1997, Helga tragically died a year later from a cerebral meningioma. Jerry subsequently moved to Oxford, MS to be closer to brother Tommy, sister-in-law Linda Windham and their family.
Jerry was preceded in death by parents William Daniel (W.D.) and Edna Earle Windham, sister Sue Windham, brother W.D. (Billy) Windham of Houston, TX, and brother Dr. Thomas L. Windham (Tommy) of Oxford. Jerry was blessed to have a close relationship with his many nieces and nephews, and also the Trewolla family of Brandon and Madison, MS. He is survived by sister in-law Linda Trewolla Windham of Oxford; nieces and nephews Taylor Windham of Oxford, Tom Windham, Jr. of Kalispell, MT, Susan Windham Wood (Luke) of St. Johns, FL, and William Windham, David Windham, Jeffrey Windham and Richard Windham of Houston, TX. Jerry is additionally survived by great nieces and nephews William and Clayton Windham of Oxford, Barner and Windham Wood of St. John’s, FL, and Sarah and Taylor Windham of Kalispell, MT.
Jerry will be interred in Chicago, where he will be buried next to wife Helga. Jerry often donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, as well as to numerous other charities. Those who wish to honor Jerry with a memorial are asked to please contribute to your favorite charities.
