The coveted head baseball coach, Joel Gafford, passed away unexpectedly on May 5, 2025; however, the details surrounding his demise remain private, as the community focuses on supporting his grieving family, including his wife, children, and loved ones.
Joel Gafford is survived by his wife, Lauren Smith Gafford, his parents, Sandra Clayton Gafford and George Gafford, and his six kids.
Lauren and Joel had been together for a prolonged time of over a decade now.
On May 30, 2024, Joel took to his Facebook to wish Lauren on the commemoration of their anniversary. He wrote:
15 whole years. I couldn’t even login to pay the bills with out you. You’re the best mom, nurse, wife, manager, girlfriend, personal secretary, babymomma, organizer, vacation planner. Thanks for putting up with my nonsense this long. I’m so glad I was at the right place at the right time 16 years ago. I want that smoke.
Joel Gafford
However, it remains unknown if they married in 2009 or started dating. So far, Lauren hasn’t broken her silence surrounding Gafford’s tragic demise.
Sadly, Joel Gafford’s untimely demise comes just a couple of days after he completed his 15th season with the Ripley High School.
The baseball coach had completed his 15th season on April 24, 2025. Mississippi Sports shared a post which read:
Ripley head baseball coach Joel Gafford just completed his 15th season at the helm of the Tigers and he was presented with this cool item, signed by all 26 college signees that have came through his program. The winningest coach in Tippah County history and one of the longest tenured coaches in Mississippi currently, Gafford has built a solid program in Ripley.
Lynda Scott Bramlett, his parents’ friend, shared the tragic news on her Facebook, writing:
Myrtle Class of 65. Our precious classmate, Sandra Clayton Gafford and her husband George have lost their youngest child, Joel. Please pray our Lord will cover them with his arms and give them peace! I will post arrangements when they are available.
Lynda Scott Bramlett
Thus far, details surrounding his funeral services have yet to be published by his family.
Meanwhile, we offer our heartfelt condolences to Gafford’s wife, kids, parents, friends, and extended family.
Baseball Coach Joel Gafford Served At Ripley High School For 15 Seasons, From 2010 To 2024!
Coach Gafford led the Ripley High School baseball team for 15 seasons, pouring his heart into the game and the young athletes he mentored.
Known as the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) of Ripley baseball, Gafford was appointed as Ripley High’s new head baseball coach in July 2010.
Gafford coached the Ripley Tigers in Mississippi’s 3A and 4A divisions, consistently delivering solid results.
His teams achieved winning records in most seasons, with standout years including 2015-16 (30-9), 2016-17 (26-7), and 2017-18 (22-5), where the Tigers dominated their district with perfect 10-0 records.
In 2023-24, his final season, the team posted a strong 24-12 overall record and an 8-1 district record, ranking 4th in the state’s 4A division.
Over the years, his teams frequently ranked among the top in their division, with notable state rankings like 3rd in 2016-17 and 5th in 2017-18.
Even in tougher seasons, such as 2012-13 (5-12) or 2022-23 (9-11), Gafford’s leadership kept the program competitive.
His ability to rebuild and maintain high standards was evident in seasons like 2020-21, where the team bounced back to a 21-8 record after a challenging 2019-20 season disrupted by external factors.
Thanks to his contributions, Gafford earned the title of the Coach of the Year in May 2024.
Before working at Ripley High School, he was an assistant at New Albany High. A 2003 graduate of New Albany High, Gafford played under coach Curt Fowler.
He was a pitcher and an outfielder at Northeast Mississippi Community College for two seasons before finishing his college career at Mississippi Valley State.
Gafford also coached the past two seasons in the summer collegiate Cotton States Baseball League’s North Division.
