Jessie Frank Qualls

Commander Jessie Franks Qualls was born on March 13, 1943. He departed this life April 13, 2022 at Helen Keller Hospital, Sheffield, AL. Commander Jessie confessed Christ at an early age and became a member of Mt. New Home Missionary Baptist Church, Leighton, AL. where he served faithfully until death.

He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Ollie Mae Kendrick Qualls and Orlandus Grant Qualls Sr., brother Orlandus Grant ” Buddy” Qualls Jr., two sisters Ludie Mae Qualls Abernathy and Janie Ruth Qualls Allen, five brothers-in-law, Dennis Abernathy, Rev. Bonnie L. Burgess Sr., Robert C. Allen Jr., Bennie Jarmon, and Joe Jones.

Jessie attended Leighton Training School and later enlisted in the United States Army at the age 16. Commander Qualls received the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Commendation Medal with V device for valor, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the National Defense Service Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. Qualls was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then went to Korea with his unit and was there from 1960-61. Qualls was an automatic weapons squad leader with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Airborne Infantry Strike Force, 101st Airborne Division, from March 1965 until July 1966. He left the Army in 1968 as a Sergeant Jesse Qualls. His first job after the military was with Reynolds Aluminum in Sheffield. He later drove a tractor trailer for nearly 30 years. JEsie was a disc Jockey and was known as “Suntan Superman”.

Qualls was the commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8640 in Sheffield, AL. He facilitated the Vet to Vet PTSD group meetings at the Alabama VA hospitals. He was also the first Vice president of the Tri-county branch of the NAACP and he served as chairman of the state’s NAACP military and veterans affairs committee. He provided veteran’s updates, church schedules and church music monthly on WZZA AM-1410 in Tuscumbia. He was employed at TNT Fireworks as a security guard. He was the founder and president of Shoals area Travel Light Social Club.

Commander Jessie Frank Qualls will be truly missed. He was known all over the world. He also wanted to help any anyone in need especially the veterans. The love and support that he shared for his family, friends and many communities will be cherished locally, regionally, and nationally.

He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 58 years Mrs. Annie Pearl Jarmon Qualls, two daughters Rosalinda Qualls and Tawana Qualls all of Florence, Al;, two sons Christopher Qualls of Florence, AL and Derrick(Kim)Vinson of Atlanta, GA.; four grandsons Benjamin Qualls, Emmanuel Coleman both of Florence, AL, Darius and Noah Vinson of Atlanta, GA, three sisters Josie Burgess of Muscle Shoals, AL, Willia Jones of Clinton Township, MI,  Dorothy Qualls of Marysville, OH, three sisters -in- law Helen Stanley and Joyce Causly both of Leighton, AL. and Lela Jarmon of Florence, AL, a devoted friend/brother Willie James “Coleman” Lewis and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Compassionate and Proficient Preparation By:
Trinity Memorial Funeral Home-Muscle Shoals, Alabama

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jessie Frank Qualls, please visit our floral store.