Jerry “J.B.” Young
June 8, 1939 – December 12, 2021
Jerry was a great friend. We met in 1979 at Lexington Toastmasters. He was an inspiration and mentor to me.
Jerry died on December 12, 2021 at the VA Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky from covid. This webpage is meant to honor him.
We enjoyed many hours together attending Toastmasters meetings and storytelling events. Years ago he and I would speak together at community events promoting Toastmasters. He was my mentor when I was the District 40 Area 19 Governor which was right before our eleven clubs were divided into multiple Areas. I really appreciated and needed his guidance.
He was the first guest on my first podcast in 2007 and he was the first guest on this Bluegrass Region Voices and Views podcast which we taped in early 2020. That one was about storytelling. It is Episode #1 and that will always be special to me.
We spent many hours sitting in my car in his driveway talking. NPR talks about “driveway moments” when you’re listening to a show and stay in your car to hear more. Those driveway moments with Jerry are dearly missed.
If you have any pictures or stories about Jerry that you’d like to share, please contact me.
Here is some of what was written about Jerry in his Obituary:
“Jerry Blackburn Young “J.B.”, 82, of Lexington KY, passed away on December 12, 2021. Jerry was born in Nashville, TN to the late William Young and Ruth Markham. Jerry was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was a member of several organizations, including the Toastmaster’s Club for 50 years, The Ancient Age Street Rod Association, the Kentucky Storytelling Association, and the Bluegrass Amateur Radio Society, Inc.”
Jerry’s service was on December 21, 2022 at the Kerr Brothers-Main Street Funeral Home. Officiating was David Fields. Interment was at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholsville, Kentucky with Military Honors. You can visit and honor him at: Jerry Blackburn Young / Section #O / Grave #1091
