Mr. Raymond Fred Jones, Sr., age 76, of Harrison passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in an Augusta Hospital. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, July 16th at 2:00 P.M. in the Mt. Gilead Primitive Baptist Church of Tennille with burial in the Church Cemetery. Elder Kenneth Brantley will officiate. Pallbearers will be Gordan Alley, Blake Harris, Horace Jackson, Ray Jones, Jr., Derek Register, And Gene Smith. The family will greet friends on Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of service at the Church.
Mr. Jones was born on September 18, 1946, in Folkston, Georgia, the son of the late Gilbert Arthur Jones and the late Mabel Josephine Wyant Jones. He was reared in Ocala and Miami, Florida, graduating from the Northland High School. At the age of 14, Ray began courting the love of his life, Diane. Mr. Jones soon after started his working career at the local A&P Grocery Store to build towards their married life. He later worked for Florida Light and Power prior to a 26-year career in law enforcement with the Miami-Dade County Police Department, retiring as an Investigator. While living in Miami, Ray was a member of the Little Flock and the Welcome Primitive Baptist Churches. Mr. Jones relocated to Washington County in 1993 for employment with B-H Transfer Co. as a Long-Haul Team Driver traversing the continental United States with his wife. He was an active member of the Mt. Gilead Primitive Baptist Church. Ray was an avid deer hunter and excellent marksman. Mr. Jones enjoyed fishing and gardening. He was regarded as a talented fabricator of both wood and metal. Known as “Pop-Pop” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Ray remarked “I loved my life” while surrounded by family prior to his pasing.
Survivors include his loving wife Diane J. Jones; children, Raymond Fred Jones, Jr. and wife Jenny of Harrison and Julie Denham of Cadwell; grandchildren, Kaitlyn Bennett, Eryn Harris and husband Blake, Lauryn Bennett and husband Derek, Emily Jones, Madison Jones, Kenzie Davis, Thomas Denham, Chloe Jones, and Malia Davis; great-grandchildren, Bayleigh Shiver, Benjamin Ray Shiver, Hudson Register, Marshall Harris, and Cooper Harris; siblings, Evelyn Smith and husband Franklin of Jasper, Florida and Lois Latham of Bellview, Florida; and loyal furry friend and companion, Luke.
Donations may be made to the Mt. Gilead Primitive Baptist Church, 154 Mt. Gilead Church Road, Tennille, Georgia 31089.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.