William "David" Jones

William “David” Jones, aged 78, transitioned peacefully into eternal Kingdom life with the Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, May 8, 2023, after a full and courageous life of perseverance, joy and love.

David was born April 10, 1945 in Rome, GA to Raymond Parks Jones & wife Kathryn Elizabeth Jones who preceded him in bodily death and everlasting life. David was the youngest of 3 children in the family, and grew up in the Rome, GA community.

When he was 6 years old, after having just learned to ride a bike, David was stricken with the polio virus. Totally paralyzed, he was transferred to Grady Hospital in Atlanta where he was placed in an isolation ward with other polio patients. The little boy from Rome, GA was then sent 120 miles south of his home to Warm Springs, GA for treatment and recovery. He returned home to resume school in Rome after almost a year of rehabilitation. The attack on his muscles required several more surgeries and left his body crippled for life. He would always be known for his custom leg braces and crutches. The episode defined the man David would be, how he would approach later challenges, and his outlook on God’s goodness through the promised trials and tribulations of his life.

David attended West Rome High School and has enjoyed gathering for reunions since. After high school, he attended Shorter College in Rome where he met Melissa Ann Hays. They married and moved to Atlanta for a time before settling in the Gwinnett County city of Norcross to raise a family. He later moved to Lawrenceville.

David had a love of photography in early adulthood which led him to start his sales career at Alan’s, a retail photography & print shop in Rome, before embarking on a career with 3M company. He became an adhesives product specialist at their Doraville office, just inside the Perimeter. He retired honorably after 36 years, with a trail of friendships and fond memories.

David loved the arts, especially the visual arts of photography and drama. He was a season ticket-holder at the Aurora Theatre, a volunteer usher at the Atlanta Symphony, a member at the Center for Puppetry Arts, a frequent attendee at Gwinnett Braves games (now the Stripers), and an eager advocate for the city of Lawrenceville and it’s revitalization efforts.

In retirement, he remained busy sharing time with his family and serving in his community. His civic involvement has included being a voice for the Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance, offering service on the board of directors for the Gwinnett Hospital System, sitting as a disability advisor to the Lawrenceville Planning & Zoning Committee, participating as a member of the Atlanta Post-Polio Association, presenting as a sought-after speaker at several Rotary Clubs in the state of Georgia, and educating as a panelist on infectious disease control at the pre-pandemic CDC. In his final years, he was attended by a close inner circle of family and special friends.

David’s spiritual life was rich, and the Lord’s salvation came to David when he was a teenager. His walk with the Lord has included fellowship in the blessed communities of God’s people at Kingswood UMC in Dunwoody, First UMC in Lawrenceville, and most recently Sugarloaf UMC in Lawrenceville (now called The Fountain Church). He has served in prison ministries and food ministries alongside his brothers and sisters, and has even journeyed to Kenya to share Jesus’ message of the hope and joy that comes with God’s love even despite hardships. He has had a very long, enjoyable and edifying relationship with the North Georgia Walk to Emmaus family (Walk #’s 29, 31, 37, 44, and 94, at least), where he has been ministered to and where he has ministered to others through his servanthood. He has a very close grow group, whose members have weathered much together over the years. This tight circle of longtime friends and Jesus-followers even moved meetings to David’s location as his mobility challenges increased, and they were diligent in visiting with him through seasons of illness and wellness. His family also enjoyed a deeper spirituality and shared faith with him in his last years.

David is preceded into the glory of God’s Kingdom by his older sister Jane Jones Yarbrough and her husband George Herman, and is survived by his brother Danny Parks Jones and his wife Sandy Medders Jones.

David is father to two surviving boys, William “Scott” Jones and “Mark” David Jones, through his marriage to Melissa Hays Jones.

He also leaves behind grandchildren that brought him great joy: Liberty Ann Jones and Evelyn Grace Jones, of Scott & Chelsey Jones; Liam Cooper Jones, Penelope Ann Jones, Phoebe Marie Jones, and Kristopher Mitchell Rose, of Mark Jones.

His beloved nieces and nephews were always fond in his memories: nephew Russ Jones & wife Michelle, grand-nephew Nate Jones and grand-niece Reagan Jones; niece Amy Jones Sappenfield & husband Jasen; niece Beth Yarbrough Blalock & husband Wes, and grand-nieces Emily Spriggs and Erica Spriggs; niece Sandy Yarbrough Cook & husband Tommy, grand-nephew Chad Cook & wife Jessica. There are also cousins and several great-greats that have enjoyed relationship with David throughout his life.

His favorite passage of Scripture was John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)

David was loved by many wonderful people, and he loved many people. He will be sorely missed by family and friends. His story of triumph over adversity, by leaning into God’s strength and promises, is an inspiration to anyone who ever met him. May such a legacy live on.

In lieu of flowers, David would appreciate your loving support in his memory to the North Georgia Walk to Emmaus community here: https://ngwte.org/, or to the Chattahoochee Christian School here: https://www.chattahoocheechristian.org/