Jake Hartsell, age 33, died suddenly and unexpectedly in a tragic, inexplicable, accident on September 26, 2026. He was a sweet, compassionate person who was loved by everyone he met. He loved his family very much. His older brother Jonathan was his lifelong best friend. They attended many concerts - from Bob Dylan to Gillian Welch - and Alabama football and basketball games together. Jake loved Alabama basketball. He was a wonderful musician with an encyclopedic knowledge of all genres of music. A gifted natural athlete in multiple sports, he traveled extensively to Scotland over the last several years to play golf with his Dad. Jake was beloved by the friends he made in Scotland. He was very close to his grandfather Lee, and his mother Jaymaine. Christmas was an almost year-round event for Jake. He would spend months searching for just the right gifts for his family. Jake loved the beach and family trips to Gulf Shores every summer. He wanted his ashes to be spread in the Gulf of Mexico. He believed that nature was sacred and he wanted to be connected to the earth.

Jake is survived by his mother, Jaymaine, and his father, Jim, who considered Jake his best friend in the world. He is also survived by his older brother, Jonathan Hartsell, who loved him his entire life, and his sister-in-law Jo Lauren. He is survived by his grandparents Lee Hartsell and Joel Ward and Danny Wiley. He loved his nephew Otis Hartsell and niece Junie and loved spending time with them. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Jordan, who he loved and was very close to.

There will be a Celebration of Life at 4 pm on Friday, October 2 at The Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Huntsville. The service will be followed by a wake next door at Jake’s favorite local pub, Green Bus Brewing. Jake did not want a funeral. Honorary Pallbearers are Chris Hartsell, Zac Ward, Jeremiah Rhodes, Joshua Rhodes, Jackson Reeves, Greg McCrae, David MacBrayne & William Paterson. If you want to honor Jake in some way, we ask that you consider donating to gofundme.com/in-memory-of-jake-hartsell-for-shiskine-dunaverty-jr-golf. This fund will support the junior golf programs at Shiskine and Dunaverty in Scotland, Jake’s two favorite places.