John Edwin Jones,Sr.

John Edwin Jones Sr. was called John Ed or Mr. John by most in Metter and also called Geeda by younger adults even if they were not related to him. God’s real estate agents, the Angels, took John Ed on his last flight and helped settle him into his new home on God’s Celestial Shore on June 21, 2021.

Born into the Great Depression on May 20, 1930, he lived a long life with many developments, inventions and changes over his lifetime. He was almost eleven years old, sitting on the front steps of his uncle Willie’s porch listening to the radio, when he heard the speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt about Pearl Harbor and the day that would live in infamy. He remembered the Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who wrote, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” John was 15 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

At ages 20-23 years old, John fought in the Korean Conflict where he served as BT 2, Boilerman Petty Officer 2nd class. He saw Nagasaki and Hiroshima while serving in the Navy. He was awarded three medals of honor during his active duty: National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal - 2 Stars, and United Nations Service Medal.

John was also a 33rd degree Mason and was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 60 years.

John Ed believed in God and lived his life as a walking and breathing example to all he encountered. He was a member of First Baptist Church for 78 years, joining on May 2, 1943, and was one of the oldest members of the church. He served the church as a deacon since the 1960s.

He was a faithful friend to Michael Guido of Guido Evangelistic Association where he helped establish The Sower ministry. He flew Michael Guido or drove him for many years to revivals.

John Ed was quite the pilot and passionate about flying. He earned a living from flying a few times in his life. He was taught to fly by Henry Millette and Roy Riser. John passed on the love of flying to many, especially his son, who learned to fly at age 10.

Dr. Vendie Hooks said John gave him his first golf lesson in the cornfield where the Anderson Library is presently located. Vendie and Payne Phillips were fooling around in the field, and John came up to them and said, "If you are going to do something, you need to know some basics about how to do it right." Vendie says he still remembers some of the things John told him and uses them today. Vendie also said that he never took flying lessons from John, but that if he had, he would have wanted someone like John to teach him because he knew John Edwin Jones was careful and methodical.

John was a 1949 graduate of Metter High School. Following graduation, he served in the Navy and fought in active battle in the Korean Conflict on the Navy Destroyer, The Rooks. After the war, he moved back to Metter and had careers in the Western Auto and crop-dusting and was a commercial multi-engine pilot for Mr. WA Bowen, mayor of Statesboro and WA Bowen Realty. Mr. Bowen encouraged John to join him in the real estate business, and he worked for over 50 years in Metter as a broker and auctioneer, making his last deal at 90 years of age. John was responsible for helping many low income people get FHA homes in the Metter area and surrounding counties.

He was the youngest of three sons of Carlton Buddy Jones and Sally Johnston Jones Chance. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Crafton Jones; a son, John Edwin Jones Jr. (Alicia); a daughter, Jill Jones Powell (Steve); step-daughter Kim Webb Sparks (John); and step-son Chris Webb (Rhonda); grandsons, Tripp John Edwin Jones, III ( Alex), Bowen Jones (Hope), Brigham Sparks (Brett), and Brenden Sparks; two granddaughters Katherine Powell and Victoria Powell; four great-grandchildren, Madelynn Anna Elise Beasley, Lillian Kay Beasley, Carsyn Blake Jones and Ira Sparks; a brother CB Jones (Dot); many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, US Jones and his wife Billie Jones.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at First Baptist Church from 5:00 to 7:00 o’clock in the evening. John Ed’s truck will be parked at Jones Realty and Auction Company where he parked it every day for over 51 years.

The celebration of life service will be held at First Baptist Church at 10:00 o’clock in the morning on Thursday, June 24, 2021.

Interment will be in Lake Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Metter, Georgia. (PO Box 34, Metter, Georgia).