Johnny Millard Jacumin

Dateline: Wingate NC Johnny Millard Jacumin Johnny Jacumin was born on March 26, 1939 in Burke County, NC. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family on June 17, 2010. He was married to the love of his life Mary “Cookie” Christenbury Jacumin for 51 years. He was also survived by one daughter Ginger Jacumin Sellers and husband Brad, and one son Marvin Scott Jacumin. His grandchildren are Mollie and Matt Sellers and Anna and Luke Jacumin. Other survivors include two sisters, Lavada Palmer and husband Cecil of Daphne AL. Lolita Hess and husband Herb of Doylestown PA and a special brother-in-law Buddy Christenbury of Charlotte NC. Mr. Jacumin was preceded in death by his father Marvin Jacumin and his mother Edna Godden and one brother. Johnny was a retired teacher with the Union County Public Schools and was most recently working as a Driver’s Ed Instructor at Forest Hills High School. At the time of his death he was serving the Town of Wingate as Mayor Pro Temp where he served on the Town Council for 13 years. Throughout his life he loved the game of basketball coaching at both the high school and collegiate level. In 27 seasons as Coach of the Lady Bulldogs at Wingate University, Johnny Jacumin compiled an overall record of 591-218. He credited the student-athletes and assistant coaches for the success of his teams. Bulldog fans could ask him about the whereabouts of one of his former players and he would give them a full-scale report. Coach Jacumin was the dean of South Atlantic Conference women's basketball in terms of number of wins and longevity. Wingate had a long history of postseason success during the Jacumin era. In 1987-88, the Bulldogs were 33-2 overall, winning 33 games in a row and earning an NAIA Final Four berth in Kansas City. During his tenure, Wingate participated in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional tournament nine times. Wingate won the NCAA regional in 1995 and 1996, advancing to the Elite Eight in Fargo, N.D. In 2005-06, the Wingate women's basketball team (25-7 overall) advanced to the finals of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional tournament. Along the way, the Bulldogs earned their ninth SAC regular season title with a 13-1 league slate. Wingate was a perfect 11-0 in the friendly confines of Cuddy Arena during the 2005-06 campaign. His final team posted a 23-7 overall record. Johnny Jacumin won his 500th game as head women's basketball coach at Wingate University, March 1, 2003. At the time of his retirement, Jacumin was fourth on the NCAA Division II winningest active coaches win list with his 591 victories. Since the SAC became an all-sports league in 1989, Jacumin's clubs won or shared the regular season title in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Wingate won the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1997. In 1988 Jacumin was chosen as the Converse National Coach of the Year. He was conference coach of the year 12 times during his career and completed 20 twenty win seasons. Prior to his coaching tenure at Wingate, Jacumin compiled a 102-47 overall record in six seasons as girls' basketball coach at Parkwood. He completed his coaching career at Forest Hills for two seasons after retirement. Honored for his many accomplishments Johnny Jacumin was a member of 3 Hall of Fames. In 1988 he became a member of the World Karting Association Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Wingate University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and in 2007 he was inducted into the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame. Memorial donations may be made to Wingate Baptist Church; 109 West Elm St. Wingate, NC 28174 or to the Nu-Life Food Bank; Highway 74 Wingate, NC 28174. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, June 20, 2010 at Gordon Funeral Home in Monroe, 1904 Lancaster Avenue. A service to celebrate the life of Johnny Jacumin will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 21, 2010 at Wingate Baptist Church. Online Condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory Is caring for the family. Published online on June 18, 2010 courtesy of Gordon Funeral Service, Inc. .