Mr. Jones was born Thursday, July 9, 1931, in Pine grove, Alabama, to Edward Columbus and Edna Sevilla Rickman Jones. He saw service in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1954. He was stationed with his unit in the northeastern United States where he helped test winter clothing and equipment for the army. For more than 43 years Mr. Jones worked for Alabama Power as a local lineman. He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Lanett, where he especially enjoyed the fellowship of his Sunday School class. He was also an avid golfer as well as a devoted fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Survivors include his son, Gary D. (Linda) Jones of Lanett; step-daughter Annette (Dale) Dimon of Ozark, Alabama; two sisters, Lila Sevilla Jones Hooper of Florence, Alabama and Sarah Clifford Jones of Columbus, Mississippi; three brothers, James Frank Jones, Owen Dewitt Jones both of Meridian, Mississippi and Roy Newton Jones of Decatur, Alabama. Six grandchildren survive him. They are LeAnn (Alex) Lincoln of Pensacola, Florida, Jeromy Cain of Lanett; step grandchildren Michael, (Debbie) Casalinuovo of Dozier, Alabama, Tim Casalinuovo of Hudson, Florida, Linda Jernigan of Ozark, Alabama and Rhonda Casalinuovo of Newfane, New York. He is also survived by six step great grandchildren and six step great-great grandchildren. He is preceded by his parents; his wife, Artie Belle Blackmon Jones, whom he married in 1954; four sisters, Maudie Mae Jones Lowe, Mattie Columbus Jones Lowe, Mary Edna Jones Shawver, and Eva Mae Jones Harris; four brothers, David Edward Jones, John Rickman Jones, E. C. Jones and Eddie Sheppard Jones.