Franklin “Grady” Jones, 98, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, August 29, 2018, after a brief illness. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 31, 2018, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with Dr. Wayne Roe, the Rev. Jimmy Voyles and Mrs. Gerri Markham officiating. Mr. Jones will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, August 30, 2018, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Serving as pallbearers will be Brian Watford, Trevor Denmon, Cameron Denmon, Lindsey Evans, Hollis Flanders, Bill Jones, Lowell Sims and Michael Gordon. Honorary escort will be Ms. Sydney Denmon.
Mr. Jones was born March 11, 1920 in Hiawassee, moving to Tift County in 1929, to William Z. and Addie Belle Richards Jones. Mr. Jones served with the U. S. Marine Corps in China at the end of WWII. After serving with the Marine Corps, he was a farmer before being ordained to the ministry in 1957. He graduated from Norman Junior College in Norman Park in 1958 and from Mercer University in Macon in 1964. While in college, he pastored part-time at churches in Colquitt, Worth and Dodge Counties from 1957 to 1961. After graduating from Mercer University, he pastored churches in Telfair, Bibb, Cook, Wilkinson, Terrell and Tift Counties from 1961-1987.
After retiring in 1987 from full-time ministry, he became a member of Tifton’s First Baptist Church, but continued to do supply pastorate work at several churches in and around Tift County. Grady lived his life as a testimony to his Christian faith. He held many positions in the church before becoming a pastor and served several positions within various Ministerial Associations, while pastoring. He was a loving, caring person to his family and his church families. Mr. Jones is preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Nona Ellis Jones; a son, Marlin Jones; his parents and twelve brothers and sisters.
Mr. Jones is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn Watford and her husband Bobby of Canton; grandson, Brian Watford of Atlanta; granddaughter and her husband, Cheri and Keith Denmon and three great-grandchildren, Trevor, Sydney and Cameron Denmon, all of Canton. He is also survived by his wife’s sister, Margie Whiddon of Tifton; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church of Tifton, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.