John A. Jones, Sr.

John Allison Jones, Sr. died peacefully surrounded by family and went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 18, 2022.

John was born September 12, 1931, to the late Grady John and Ollie Matthews Jones in Williamsburg County, SC.  As the family relocated to lower Florence County, John spent many years working alongside his parents and 7 siblings on a tobacco farm.  He was very proud of the heritage and close family bonds that grew from life on the farm in Ard Crossroads. He graduated from Johnsonville High School and went on to enlist in the United States Navy, serving two tours aboard the USS Yorktown as a communications specialist.  He later attended Wingate Junior College where he met and fell in love with Sara Helms.  He continued his education at East Carolina University.  John was a standout athlete on the baseball teams at Johnsonville High School, Wingate College and East Carolina University.

After a brief teaching position at Parkwood High School in Monroe, NC, John taught U.S. History, coached football and basketball, and later served as Principal of Bennettsville High School in Bennettsville, SC.  He readily shared that his years as a Bennettsville “Green Gremlin” were some of the happiest days of his career and cherished the relationships with friends from Marlboro County throughout his life. John later enjoyed serving as the superintendent in two great SC school districts: Latta Schools and Chesterfield County Schools. Upon retirement, he enjoyed many years as Headmaster of Marlboro Academy in Bennettsville. 

John was an active member of Chesterfield Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He had a great passion for children and supported Connie Maxwell Children’s Home as a board member for many years. John was a member of the American Legion Post 74. He enjoyed weekly outings with his golfing buddies, any chance to fish at the beach with his siblings, and over 25 years of helping his brother with the annual family Thanksgiving barbecue. 

John was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sara, and was a devoted father to his three sons; Dr. John, Jr. of Monroe, N.C.; Major General Jeffrey (Amanda) of Lexington, S.C.; and Jason (April) of Fort Mill, S.C.; his grandchildren Houston Jones, Lydia Jones, and Sara Isobel Jones.  Also, he is survived by loving siblings; Ira Snead of Spartanburg, S.C; and Shirley Macklin (Dr. A.W.) of Raleigh, N.C.; wonderful brothers and sisters in-law, many well-loved nieces and nephews, and special cousins from Johnsonville.  He was preceded in death by siblings Hubert Jones, Ilee Lee, Jackie Bucher, Weldon Jones, and Mary Wade.

We the family send our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Dr. John F. McLeod, III, and his staff for the years of dedicated care for our family as well as the outstanding staff members of Cheraw Healthcare and Compassion Home Care in Cheraw. Special gratitude to Charlie Teal and Bill Stubbs for their many years of friendship as well as dear neighbors Henry and Barbara Moore.

A Celebration of Life service will take place on Friday, October 21st, at 2:00 PM at Chesterfield Baptist Church by Rev. Randy Bishop and Rev. Allen Usher with the burial to follow in the Chesterfield Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 2:00 at Chesterfield Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Chesterfield Baptist Church, 207 E. Main Street, Chesterfield, SC 29709 or to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, 212 Zoar Road, Chesterfield, SC 29709.