Dr. James Polk "Jay" Brinson III, 51, of Jesup, GA, died October 5, 2021, at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL, after a short illness and a remarkable life. Born in Statesboro in 1969, Jay moved to Wayne County when he was in third grade.

He was proud to be a product of the Wayne County School System and was a devoted Yellow Jacket throughout his life. A 1988 graduate of Wayne County High School, Jay was a stellar student-athlete. He was a decorated, four-year varsity baseball player, earning the team's Most Valuable Player in 1985 and 1988, and in 1987 and 1988, he was named All-State, won the team's Gold Glove Award and held the highest batting average.

Jay played college baseball at Jacksonville University and Middle Georgia College and graduated from Georgia Southern before returning to Wayne County for a 29-year career with the Wayne County School System. During this time, he held his roles of coach, teacher and administrator with a personal mission of "paying it forward" to a community that he believed invested so much in him.

He later received his master's degree, six-year/specialist degree and doctorate of educational leadership from Cambridge College.

He became head baseball coach in 1997, and in eight years his teams earned a 163-64 record with six 20-win seasons, six sub-region titles, three region titles and two Elite 8 appearances. He was inducted into the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

He taught physical education at Screven Elementary, served as Assistant Principal at Oak Vista Elementary and Principal at Odum Elementary and Wayne County High School until he assumed the position of Wayne County Superintendent of Schools in 2014.  Under his helm, the Wayne County School System achieved many accolades and milestones; however, his greatest sense of accomplishment in his career came from helping students, players, and colleagues to reach higher and achieve more.

He retired as Superintendent of Wayne County Schools in March 2021.

Jay loved God, his family, his friends, and Wayne County. He was a man of quiet dignity who led by example. He was a firm believer in hard work and fighting through adversity, and his life was an illustration of these principles.

He was predeceased by his father, James Brinson, Jr., and his brother, Jeremy Brinson.

Survivors are his wife of 26 years, Kim Brinson; his daughter, Mallory (Jake) Phillips of Odum; his son, J.T. Brinson of Jesup; his mother, Marie (Dewayne) Baker of Jesup; his brother, Jason (Acela) Brinson of Jesup; his nephew, Jacob Brinson of Eastman; and two nieces, Shelby and Lottie Brinson.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 3 p.m. from Unity Church of God with Pastor Mark Ledbetter, Craig Davis and Bob Morgan officiating. Interment will follow in the Old Bethel Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Craig Davis, Ken Perkins, Steve Ammons, Kevin Keith, Randy Harvey, Paul Brannen, Jimbo Boykin, Bobby Lamb, Joe Ierardi, and Bob Morgan.

Honorary pallbearers will be the current and former colleagues of the Wayne County School System, former players and fellow coaches and the First District RESA Superintendents.

Visitation will be two hours prior to services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Coach Jay Brinson Scholarship Fund, c/o Prime South Bank, 375 W. Cherry Street, Jesup, GA 31545.

Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of arrangements.