William Garnet “Billy” Jones, Sr., 79, of Tifton died Sunday, January 13, 2013, at his residence. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 21, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Tifton. Rev. Stephen Webb, Rev. Bruce Sack and Dr. Sam Rogers will officiate with a private burial to be held at a later date. Honorary pallbearers will be bailiffs and judges of Tift County, deputy sheriffs of Tift County, members of the Salvation Army, members of the Beacon Sunday school class at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church and the men of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends on Monday, January 21, 2013, immediately following the service in the social hall of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church.
Mr. Jones was born on March 23, 1933 in Turner County and was the son of Claude L. Jones, Sr. and Lois Helms Jones, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Grace Sawyer. He was the Chief Bailiff for the Tift County Sheriff’s Department and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Tifton, where he was a member of the Beacon Sunday school class and the Methodist Men’s Group. He had been a resident of Tifton for 45 years.
Mr. Jones was very dedicated to the Salvation Army and provided food for the Salvation Army through the Food Fund at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church, which he was instrumental in beginning. He also served in the United States Army from 1951-1954.
After attending a fundraiser at Herring Memorial Methodist Church, he was inspired to raise funds to refurbish the church and the grounds of the church and, therefore, started a fund for Herring Memorial Methodist Church at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church. He was a huge NASCAR fan and Carl Edwards and Mark Martin were his favorite drivers.
Mr. Jones is survived by his wife, Antionette “Toni” Jones of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, William Garnet Jr. and Joy Jones of Palmyra, Virginia and Jeffrey Glenn and Lisa Jones of Green Cove Springs, Florida; one daughter and son-in-law, Gina Grace “Gigi” and Darrell Hamlin of Lakeland, Florida; one brother, Claude L. Jones, Jr. of Thomaston; three sisters, Belle Cochran of Athens, Sue Lewis and June Hardy, both of Thomaston; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Salvation Army, 1205 U. S. Highway 82 East, Tifton, GA 31794, the First United Methodist Church Altar Fund, 107 West 12th Street, Tifton, GA 31794, Hospice of Tiftarea, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793 or the Herring Memorial Methodist Church, 9 Tifton-Eldorado Road, Tifton, GA 31794.