J.E. "Jimmy'" Jones went home to be with the Lord May 27, 2019, at the age of 98. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 30, 2019, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 31, 2019, at First Baptist Church in Center with Bro. Carl Smith and Bro. Bobby Bressman officiating.  Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Virginia Lewis Jones and son, Ronnie E Jones, his father, James E. Jones Sr. and mother, Billie Bush Jones.

He is survived by his daughter, Suzanne Jucas and son-in-law, Dr. John Jucas, of Shreveport and daughter, Carolyn Lovette and son-in-law, Bill Lovette of Charlotte, North Carolina and daughter-in-law, A. J. Canales of Alice, Texas. He is survived by five grandchildren, Ron Jones of Georgetown, Texas, Rebecca Jones of Austin, Texas, Allyson Jones of Brooklyn, New York, Don Lovette of Cartersville, Georgia and Jennifer Lovette of Charlotte, North Carolina. His great grandchildren are Taylor Salinas, Madison Lovette, Jackson Lovette, Hudson Lovette, Kate Jones, and Tory Jones.

Jimmy was a native of Fort Worth Texas. He graduated from Pascal High school in Fort Worth, where he lettered in football and track.

He attended Baylor University in Waco and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He also attended Stephen F Austin University, where he earned a teacher’s degree and a certification to teach.

He moved to Tyler County in East Texas as a young man where he met and married Virginia Lewis.

It was also in East Texas that he taught school for five years. His love of working with young people brought some of the most rewarding experiences of his life. He taught all four grades of high school English and he served as high school principal and coached football, baseball and track. While in Tyler County, he pastored five different churches, three of them were in the county as well as Diboll and Burke in Angelina county. During this time, he experienced his most memorable service which was in First Baptist of Colmesneil, Texas. He would never tell these details, but in an article of the local newspaper it was written that the church closed one of its most successful revivals with twenty additions by baptism and five by letter. Of the twenty who were baptized, the average age of those joining was forty years which is unusual in conversions. The Lord allowed him to be part and preach every sermon of the revival. There were approximately five hundred people attending the last service and in a town of less than a thousand people it was an amazing experience.

In 1951, he moved to Center where he opened Dad and Lad's Clothing store for men and boys. He operated this for forty five years. Also, in the intervening years, he operated three other stores in Center as well as in San Augustine and in Carthage.

Through the years in Shelby county, he pastored Clever Creek Baptist Church, Antioch Baptist Church, Lonestar Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church of Timpson. With his work in the clothing business for so many years it enabled him to be able to help the smaller churches when he was needed. During this time he witnessed many life decisions and was a part of encouraging building and growth of the smaller churches. He always gave God all the credit and gratitude for using him in this capacity.

Through these thirty years, he conducted many revivals and more funerals that he could recall and was always available to preach for Bro. Chadwick at the First Baptist Church as he was needed.

For over fourteen years, he taught the Men's Bible Class at the First Baptist Church. Much of the time it was on radio and televised for the community.

In civic work, he served for approximately seventeen years on the Board of Trustees of the Center Independent School District where he served as president of the board.

Also, he served two terms as president of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce as well as two terms as President of the Center Lions Club.

For twenty years, he served on the Board of Directors of the Farmers State Bank. He retired from active business in 1995.

He always lived by three deep considerations as the guiding motivation of his life: be a friend to all, live by the Golden Rule and make this world a better place because you are permitted to pass this way.

In his life there were many things he loved and enjoyed, hunting and being in nature were at the top but it was his study of the Bible and teaching and preaching that were the things that meant most to his life.

To be with his Lord and Savior is gain. He is now home.

Micah 6:8 - And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

His family is so grateful for the people who have blessed and enriched his life. Cursandra Wade who he always said was his best friend. She truly was for six years. Jackie Collins who was was with him weekends and nights.

Special thanks to Charlotte Garrett, Tyronne Garrett, Kelsey Owens, Sherry Gibbs, Tricia Baker, Nicole Simpson, Karen Morris, Annie Wynn, Kathy Davidson, Betty Davis, Betty Ratcliff, Julie Dixon, Kay DeSoto, Kim Bridges, and Steve Fults. To all the wonderful staff at Pine Grove Heart to Heart Hospice.

If anyone has been overlooked, thank you and God bless you!

Pallbearers will be Luke Motley, David Chadwick, Tim Morrison, Buddy Hancock, Bobby Watson, Don Lovette, Ron Jones, and Bill Stegall. Honorary pallbearers are the Farmers State Bank Board and Men’s Bible Class of First Baptist Church.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com