Mr. Jones, Piano, Champ, Daddy, Pops, Pa-Pa, and Granddad.  To know him was to love him.  James Thurman Jones lived a full life, October 3, 1931 to August 17th, 2018. Born here in Bedford County, he remained as a resident the majority of his life.

He worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator for English Construction Company and Counts and Dobbs Inc., that helped to build many of the local roads and bridges that we travel on today.  Throughout his life, he traveled and lived in many places.  If you had time for a 'Sitting Spell', he would share many of those adventures with you as he loved to tell a good story. His love of laughter made it impossible to meet a stranger. He would talk to anyone and everyone.  Going to the "Hilltop" to get his weekly updates was a favorite pastime of his.  He experienced life to the fullest and encouraged others to do the same, especially his children - 'Half-stepping was never ok.  Anything worth doing, was worth doing right.'

As a young man, he suffered an eye injury that lead many to falsely believe that he would be easy prey in a game of pool, only to be proven wrong, never suspecting that they had ran into a master.  He also loved being outside, and if that involved a fishing pole or hunting, he loved it even more!  After retiring, and even in declining health, he still made time to provide an encouraging word, and at the least, to "Live, Learn, and Grow!"

He may not have been a 'Church-going man' but he was a 'God-fearing man'.  So, he understood God's plan for his children - Alicia Gaynelle Jones and Victoria Elaine Bender, who  preceded him in death.

He loved nothing more than his family - his wife Hallie M. Jones of more than 60+ years and as he would say, his crew "8 to 10".  The rest of 'his crew' consisted of: Steven L. Jones (Tracy), Ninnia J. Mitchell (Keith), Jeffery T. Jones (Kholoud), Mona J. Starks,  Richard F. Jones (Lorita Renee), Sheila J. Benning, Rodney E. Jones (Denitra), and Chaunce M. Jones (Tonya).  He also was blessed by the jewels of his crown: his 20 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

His open heart allowed 4 additional special people in his life, that he loved like his own children: Walter 'Lewis' Starks, Devaughn 'Dee' Douglas and Brian Brawley, and of course, his beloved dog Sophie.

As we continue to live and grow his legacy, our prayer is to always remember his words of wisdom, and learn from them.

#JonesStrong

THE JONES FAMILY

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 11am in the Bedford Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Fairmont Cemetery. The family will receive friends one our prior to the service. Friends may view on Monday from 1-8pm in the Bedford Funeral Home Chapel.