Ray Forrest Jones

Ray Forrest Jones

April 8, 1958 ~ July 18, 2021 (age 63)

A Time To Be Born: Ray Forrest Jones was born April 8, 1958 in Middleton, Tennessee to the late Curtis and Verlee-Lloyd Jones.

His funeral service was held on Saturday July 24, 2021 at 1:00 pm at the Jerome Boyd Chapel at Dixie Funeral Home with Reverend Darron G. Fouse in charge.  Burial was in the Mt. Zion Cemetery-Saulsbury and Dixie funeral Home www.dixiefuneralhom.com was in charge of the professional service.  

He was the youngest of the nine siblings and he was named by his oldest brother, R.B. Jones. In 1968, he confessed a hope in Christ and became a member of Bowden Hill Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Middleton.

A Time To Live: He attended schools at Hickory Valley, Herbert Harrison in Grand Junction and Middleton High School in Hardeman County, Tennessee. He was a 1976 graduate of Middleton High School when the afro was his hair style. He spent his early life on the Jones farm performing the chores that were assigned to him. This was the beginning of his dependable and dedicated work ethics. After graduation, he began his life of gainfully employment. He enjoyed riding the motorcycle and taking road trips to Myrtle Beach, SC and other places with the bikers. He took lots of pictures to capture the occasion. He received technical training in Nashville to repair appliances and vehicles. He was employed at several companies, but the most recent one was a forklift driver in the receiving department at thyssenkrupp Elevators in Middleton (formerly Dover Elevators), for 26 years from 1985 to 2011. During his adult life, he was formerly married to Jacqueline Newson in 1984. As a member of Bowden Hill Church, he served as an usher, chairman of the board of stewards and depositor. He was elected numerous times as a lay delegate to the District and Annual Conference of the C.M.E. Church. In addition to his church’s membership where he had been under the leadership of at least 14 different pastors, he was a member since 1971 of the Independent Lodge #3, Middleton, where he served as president for the last three years and a member of United Sons and Daughters of Charity #2, Hornsby, Tennessee where Pastor Edward Bowers is president. In a humorously way, Ray was sometime slow to answer in conversation which meant that he must have given much thought to the response. He had a dog named Millie that kept him company and guarded the yard. He enjoyed attend-ing church, family reunions, helping with the babies and children, watching TV, keeping his cars running and visiting family and friends. A couple of his favorite gospel songs were “The Lord Made A Way For Me” and “It Is In My Heart”. Baby Ray, as he was sometime affectionately called was very sincere and cooperative with his singing ability.

A Time To Die: On Sunday morning, July 18, 2021 at 6:00 a.m., God called another one of his faithful servant to eternal rest. Even after his motorcycle accident in 2011 and later being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, he remained faithful to God until his death. At Jackson-Madison County Hospital in Room 970, he experienced a peaceful transition with one of his sisters, Alma Bowden, by his side. He was blessed to live 63 years, three months and ten days.

A Time To Mourn: Mourning the departure of Brother Ray are his lady friend and companion for over 25 years is Michelle McNeal; one son, DeAngelo Rayon Jones; one granddaughter, RaeLynn Kaleigh Jones. Those that preceded him in death are two children Ameanna (MeMe) Latrice Turner and Shauntae McNeal. Also his parents, Curtis and Verlee Jones; seven aunts and six uncles; one brother, R.B. Jones and one sister, Mable Joyce Jones Terrell; three brothers-in-law, Will Turner, Donald Terrell and Joe Louis Beard and one nephew, Keith Jerome Turner. Those sharing the loss is one great aunt Lugertha Rucker - age 103, in Memphis; one brother, Robert Lee (Joyce) Jones, Middleton; five sisters, Allie Geneva Beard, Mishawaka, IN; Alma Lee (Anderson) Bowden, Middeton, TN; Melba Esse Turner, Detroit, MI; Ruth Ellen (James) Crowder, Detroit, MI and Clara Mae (Ocie, Jr.) Wallace, Middleton, TN. He was the uncle to twenty-three nephews and nieces. Three of them, Belinda Ann Jones, Sylvia Jean Jones and Cedric O’Neal Murrell were raised by his parents which in a “special way” made them seem like child number 10, number 11 and number 12. He is the great-uncle to 56 nephews and nieces and great-great uncle to ten nephews and nieces. Others sharing in the loss are a host of cousins, co-workers and friends that are local and out of town.

A Time To Rest: Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into thee joy of the Lord. Matthew 25:23.
 

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