James R. Jones, 60, of Ocilla, Georgia, died Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Tift Regional Medical Center, in Tifton, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Monday, June 11, 2018, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, with Evan Harper officiating. Interment will follow in the Ocilla Cemetery, in Ocilla, Georgia. The family will receive friends Monday, from 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM, at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Jones was born August 30, 1957, in Tampa, Florida, to Carolyn Champion Jones Bailey of Polk City, Florida and the late Earl Jones. After graduating high school, he graduated from the ABAC Police Academy. Mr. Jones worked two years for the Willacoochee Police Department and retired from the Ocilla Police Department as Captain with over 30 years of service. Mr. Jones enjoyed shooting pool, hunting, fishing and spending time with his friends. He was always smiling and willing to help anyone.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Minnie Jones of Ocilla; two daughters, Lucky Gillette & Earl of Dover, Deleware and Melissa Clark & Larry of Bartow, Florida; a son, Jason Jones & Ashley of Kingsland; his mother, Carolyn Bailey of Polk City, Florida; grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Mikail, Brayden and Brinley; a brother, Bill Stricklin & Tonya of Winter Haven, Florida, two sisters, Donna Hartwiger & Richard of Lakeland, Florida and Jodi Finderr & Bryan of Polk City, Florida, and a brother from another mother, Carl Bruce Dunlap & Stephanie of Fitzgerald; a sister-in-law, Rosamand Stokes-Davis & Gregory of Pennsauken, New Jersey and a brother-in-law, Herman "Mickey" Stokes of Ocilla. Six nephews and two nieces also survive.