Grover Jones: Obituary

The Rev. Grover Duffie Jones, 85, died in the Georgia War Veterans’ Home January 26, 2011 after an extended illness. Born in Forsyth County, GA, October 6, 1925, he was the son of the late Rev. Mack Duffie Jones and Victoria Carnes Jones. He was preceded in death by eight sisters and brothers-in-law: Violet Jones, Jessie Jones, Dora Lee Wilson (Hill), Nell Bennett (Hubert), Estelle Bunn (Cyril), Kathryn Crowe (George), Eunice Martin, and Harriet Phillips (Charles). Eunice’s husband, Wade Martin of Gainesville, GA, survives.
Celebration of life and memorial services will be held for Rev. Jones at Milledgeville First Baptist Church on Saturday, January 29 at 10:00 a. m.; at McCaysville First Baptist Church on Sunday, January 30 at 1:30 p. m.; and at Choestoe Baptist Church, Blairsville, on Sunday, January 30 at 4:00 p. m. Interment will follow at New Choestoe Baptist Church Cemetery with military honors by North Georgia Honor Guard.

The family will receive visitors at Williams Funeral Home in Milledgeville on Friday, January 28 from 6 to 8 p. m. and at Finch-Cochran Funeral home in McCaysville on Saturday, January 29 from 7 to 9 p. m.
Rev. Jones was ordained to the gospel ministry on August 19, 1951 at Choestoe Baptist Church. He served for 43 ½ years as a pastor, director of missions and denominational representative.
He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II as a Radioman 3rd Class. His crew was deployed to Nagasaki, Japan following dropping of the atomic bomb with mission to restore communication.
He received his education at Martin Institute, Lyman Hall High School, Truett McConnell College (charter student), Mercer University, Southern Seminary, Southeastern Seminary, Western Carolina University and the University of Georgia.

Churches he served as pastor were Antioch at Blairsville, Harmony at Eatonton, Union Hill at Gray, Mt. Hebron at Hartwell, McConnell Memorial at Hiawassee, and First Baptist, Epworth. After 21 ½ years in the pastorate, he became associational Director of Missions for Morganton, Mountaintown and Gilmer-Fannin Associations in North Georgia, from 1972 through his retirement in June, 1988. He also worked as a consultant for the Georgia Baptist Foundation and the Georgia Baptist Health Care Services from 1988 through 1992. Active in ministry, education, community development and historical preservation, he and his wife spent July, 1978 in Gaza, Palestine and July, 1986 in Liberia, West Africa. He led his associations in partnership missions with pioneer churches in upstate New York. He was instrumental in getting off-campus college instruction locations at Blue Ridge and Epworth. He and his wife assisted in compiling two Fannin county history books on the county itself and on cemeteries (both in partnership with Dale Dyer). The 100 Years of Heritage and Hope Morganton Baptist Association History (1993) was written by Rev. Jones and his wife. They assisted with compiling Faith through Flood and Fire: A History of First Baptist Church, McCaysville (1983). Rev. Jones initiated the “Sunday School Lesson of the Air” over WLSB Radio, Copperhill, and taught it weekly for 35 years. Rev. Jones wielded a strong influence for good in various capacities of leadership. He was noted for his humility, humor, and capacity for hard work. He was mentor to several ministerial protégés, among whom are Rev. David Sunday-gar and his wife Magdalene, natives of Liberia, West Africa.

He is survived by his wife and partner-in-ministry of 61 years, Ethelene Dyer Jones of Milledgeville. They were wed December 23, 1949 after meeting at Truett McConnell College. Two children survive: Rev. Keith Jones (Debbie) of Epworth and Cynthia Berenguer (Carlos) of Milledgeville. Seven grandchildren survive: Brian David Jones, Kennesaw, GA; Nathan Jones (Kayla), Karnes City, TX; Matthew Jones (LaTasha), Emerson, Ga; Elizabeth Megale (John), Orlando, Fl; Dr. Christina Berenguer, Midway, GA; Crystal Diaz (Bryan), Monticello, GA; and Paula Aguirre (Ernesto), Macon, GA. Five great grandchildren survive: Brenna Jones, Gavin and Elisa Aguirre, Cydni and Jake Megale. In addition to brother-in-law Wade Martin, brothers-in-law Troy Dyer and Loyd Shelton and sisters-in-law Louise Dyer, Dorothy Dyer, Linda Fortenberry (Claxton), Brenda Murphy (Bobby), Gail Hedden (Wayne), and Janice Lance (Bobby) survive, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Morganton-Mountaintown Baptist Association, PO Box 1167, Blue Ridge, GA 30513; to Georgia Baptist Foundation, Dyer-Jones Scholarship Fund, 6405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097-4092 or to the Bonnie Higdon Reaves Mountain Regional Campus Council, Jones Scholarship, P. O. Box 275, Blue Ridge GA 30541.

Officiants at the Celebration of Life services include the Reverends Jerry Bradley,
Dan Hodges, Harry Gilbert, Claude Mathis, Harold Willis and Keith Jones. Grandsons, grandsons-in-law and nephews will serve as pallbearers. Music will be provided by Rev. John Cotton and Amelia Cotton, (organist), Rev. Harry Gilbert, Katie Gilbert (organist) and the Prime Time Choir, Johnny Carter and Debbie Jones (pianists), and Rev. Rick Grammer, (trumpeter). The North Georgia Honor Guard will provide military salute and graveside services.