Coach Elvin Little

Elvin W. Little, 88, Johnson City, died Thursday, January 30, 2020, at the Johnson City Medical Center. Elvin was a native of Princeton, WV, and a son of the late Vernon and Mable Hunter Little. He was a graduate of Princeton High School, where he was named All-State in football and basketball. Elvin was awarded a scholarship in football with the University of Tennessee, but ended up lettering in basketball as their three year starting point guard. He coached the Vols freshman team while finishing his B.S. Degree in Education. He later received his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from East Tennessee State University. Upon his graduation from U.T., Elvin then served his country in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, spending two years in Germany. Following his discharge from the service, he began his thirty-seven year career teaching and coaching in East Tennessee high schools, which include South Harriman High School (1954-55), Lenoir City High School (1957-60), where he finished 3rd in the state once and won the state title in 1958. Coach then spent nineteen years at Science Hill High School, (1960-79), where his teams won 525 games, including fourteen District titles, (ten straight 1968-77), and six regional titles, reaching the state tournament in 1967 (3rd in state), 68 (state runner-up), 72, 73 and 76. He then served as Athletic Director of Science Hill from 1979-83, Interim Superintendent of Johnson City Schools from 1983-84, then Assistant Superintendent from 1984-89. Following retirement, Coach Little has been inducted into multiple Halls of Fame, including, TSSAA (1995), Princeton High School (2006), Upper East Tennessee and Science Hill High School (2007), and a charter member of Lenoir City School Sports (2007). He was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, and a former member of Clark Street Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, Coach was preceded in death by his first wife, Janis Teague Little, in 1991, two brothers, Thomas Little and Roger Little, and a step-son, Clifford Morrison. He is survived by his wife, Henrietta “Hank” Morrison; two children, Terrie Jan Warren and husband Tim, Milan, Thomas Wesley Little, Johnson City; one sister, Celia Morgan, DeLand, FL; three grandchildren, Tracy White and husband Jimmy, Lindy Hardin and husband Josh, all of Milan, Wesley Little, Asheville, NC, six great-grandchildren, Austin, Canaan, Addy, Ally, Micah and Maggie; step-daughter, Polly Wiley and husband Todd, Johnson City; two step-grandchildren, T.J. Wiley and wife Ashley, Washington D.C., Kacy Bartow and husband Alec, Birmingham, AL; several nieces and nephew. The funeral service for Coach will be conducted Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 6:00 P.M., from the Sanctuary of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, with Rev. Gerald Casson, officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service Tuesday from 3:00-6:00 P.M. at the church. The graveside committal service will be held Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. in Monte Vista Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Wesley Little, T.J. Wiley, Todd Wiley, Alec Bartow, Mark McDonald and Coach Randy Ferrell. Honorary pallbearer will be Graham Spurrier, Don McDonald, Austin and Canaan White. Those planning to attend are requested to meet at the cemetery by 12:50 P.M. Those who prefer to make memorial contributions in-lieu-of flowers may do so to The American Heart Association, 3101 Browns Mill Rd., STE 6, PMB 321, Johnson City, TN 37604.Read Obituary