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The family of Perry Dean Vandergriff uploaded a photo
Thursday, February 22, 2018
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AJ posted a condolence
Thursday, September 28, 2017
I'm sorry for your loss there are no words that can ease your pain. I just hope that your family will find peace and comfort from this hope and promise from God's Word the Bible...That death would be done away with 1Corinthians 15:26 and the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. Revelation 21:4,5 and he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more neither will morning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said: Look! I am making all things new. Also he says: Write, for these words are faithful and true.....This is God promise and guarantee!!
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Virginia Hodges posted a condolence
Monday, September 25, 2017
Where do I begin.. 6th grade I guess. scared, nervous, awkward.....looking to fit in and merely survive middle school. We were young and wet behind the ears but ,you took us under your wing. You taught us respect , self worth, pride, maturity. Some of us didn't have very good home lives... it didn't matter... we were all your kids and if we were good you might play us a tune on your sax. Oh and posture..I still to this day find myself correcting my posture . Fast forward to 8th grade ...3 years in ..my did you bring us babies a long way. All the way to trying out for the high school band. One of my proudest moments. Then spending the entire summer being molded , mastering your genius half time show. Late nights , early mornings and the smell of grass. Then the band competitions....hearing our schools name as we won first place. Another trophy for our band room... but trophies aren't why you took pride in us oh no you respected us as much as we respected you. We wanted to be perfect for you every note in tune ,every step on time. You were our maestro... a musical genius and a teacher that no others would ever measure up to. You must have a very special place in heaven. I can't imagine how long the list of children, students and lives you touched. We will never forget you Mr. V. Thank you for everything you did to mold us into the strong adults we grew up to be. My deepest condolences to your family. This is an unbearable loss to the community and to all those whos lives you touched. RIP Mr. V I hope you have the most beautiful golden Saxophone ever. You WERE our Mr.Holland from Mr.Holland's Opus.
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Lucy Ford Duggan posted a condolence
Saturday, September 23, 2017
I’m deeply saddened to hear the passing of Perry. I attended church and school with Perry and I will always think of him as one of the kindest and sweetest guy you could ever meet. Over the years I have heard of Perry’s accomplishments and I’ve been so very proud of him. I have a lot of great memories of Perry and he will never be forgotten. God bless at this time of sorrow.
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Judy Bailey lit a candle
Friday, September 22, 2017
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I was very shocked when I heard of Perry's death. I attended church with he and his wife. They were truly a joy having them as fellow church members. It wasn't hard to see that Perry had a great sense of humor. He was always willing to help when he was needed. My sympathies to his family and the many others that are grieving his loss.
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Lea Walker Jolley posted a condolence
Friday, September 22, 2017
Perry was a colleague, and a friend since childhood. His mother Lorene, and my mother Barbara Walker Davis were best friends when my Dad was the preacher of Tyner United Methodist Church where our families attended. It was an honor as an adult to work with him in the Curtis Adams Fine Arts Building. He was a true Pioneer! His passing leaves an end of an Era.
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Linda Riemenschneider posted a condolence
Friday, September 22, 2017
My family met Perry the first summer my daughter joined Ooltewah's band. Perry was an instructor there and from that point my daughter looked to Perry as a second mentor after Joel Denton. He was always gracious and compassionate for all the kids he worked with at Ooltewah. He will be missed, a southern gentleman.
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Tessa Mize posted a condolence
Friday, September 22, 2017
Sir, there are no words for the sadness i feel for your family, your students & all of us that were honored enough to be your students. You may not have known how much you meant to us, but i hope you did. You knew my home situation, as many others never did. You pushed me. You made me better. & honestly you may have saved my life a few times. I thank you so much for everything you did to make me a better person, & i apologize for the times i didn't listen & should have. I don't know how my life would have been without the music & values you taught me, but i do know it would not be as great as it has been. You were the one that once told me not to do anything that doesn't make my heart sing. That has stuck with me through all of these years. Again, thank you.
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Diana Brock posted a condolence
Friday, September 22, 2017
I will truly miss my friend and colleague Mr. Perry Vandergriff and would like to express my appreciation for all the work he did for the East Ridge Schools and community. I'll never forget the time our day was not going in the direction either one of us had planned, and Perry just smiled and said, "Want a cup of coffee?" Perry I hope you are enjoying a big cup of coffee and playing in Heaven's Big Band.
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Jay Brewster posted a condolence
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Seriously, thank-you for everything Mr. Vandergriff. Going to your class; being in band; the experience and everything was great. Thank-you for all the great times and memories that will stick with me, and all of us forever. You were most literally the best teacher I've ever had. Thank-you.
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John Compton, Notre Dame '85 posted a condolence
Thursday, September 21, 2017
I had the dubious honor of being part of Mr. Vandergriff's first band at Notre Dame High School just weeks after he had graduated from UT. He was inexperienced and young, not much older than most of us in the band. Needless to say I'm sure that it was an overwhelming experience and that he was terrified with the group of kids that he had inherited. However, if he was, you would have never known it. He was calm, cool and collected thoughout that first year. His continued drive and determination payed off handsomely the next year as we won the Tri-State Marching Band Competition, something Notre Dame had tried to do for years but had never accomplished. (I have never seen a man jump as high as Perry did when we were announced as the winners.) I have only seen Perry a limited number of times since those years at Notre Dame and hearing the news of his passing caught me by surprise. But as I have reflected back on those years when he was cutting his teeth as a new band director; the summers at Maryville College for band camp, the band trips, the weekends that he would sacrifice spending time with his wife Dianne and newborn Jon-Michael while transporting some of us to East TN and Allstate band competitions, I can't help but smile and laugh. Looking back, those times were without a doubt the most fun I had in high school. "Perr", you will be missed, but you have left us all with some of our best memories!!
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Dee Ann Camp posted a condolence
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Perry was one of the nicest guys I ever knew in school and even though I haven't seen him in many years the warmth of his smile and light in his eyes has remains the same. He was a good friend and an inspiration even when we were in junior high. I will keep the family in my heart and prayers. DeeAnn Camp
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Amanda Miller posted a condolence
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Mr. Vandergriff (to this day I can't call you Perry, although I graduated high school over 18 years ago), you were a teacher, a mentor, a father-figure, and a friend. You helped shape me into the confident, motivated person that I am today. It honored me to see you every year at the East Ridge Christmas Parade, still calling me Worley. You have no idea how many lives like mine you change. Well, perhaps you do. All of the hundreds of band and color guard students, you gave your all to us in order for us to give our all. All the while being the wonderful husband and father (and grandfather) to your own little family at home. All of us "Vandy Bandies" will never forget the lessons, the laughs, and the occasional quotes that, to this day, I still use. We know that you are watching over each and every one of your children, waiting until the day we are all together making music again. Thank you. Thank you for all that you were, all that you are and all that you will be in the memories of those you graced with your presence. As you always would say, it was an honor and a privilege. Amanda (Worley-Bird) Miller
Contact
(423) 843-2525
Legacy Funeral Home
And Cremation Center
8911 Dallas Hollow Road
Soddy Daisy, TN 37379
(423) 821-7551
Wann Funeral And Cremation Center
3918 Tennessee Avenue 104
Chattanooga, TN 37409
