AREA OBITUARIES -- JOHN O'NEAL JONES

January 11, 2021
AREA OBITUARIES -- JOHN O'NEAL JONES AREA OBITUARIES -- JOHN O'NEAL JONES

John O'Neal Jones, of Hendersonville, Tenn. and formerly of South Fulton, died peacefully at home on Fri., Jan. 8, 2021. He was 64.

He was born on Oct. 31, 1956 in Fulton.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Ruth Montez Gambill Jones and Brookson O'Neal Jones, and will be deeply missed by his wife, Karen Taylor Jones, their two children, Melissa Neal Jones of Denver, Col. and Allison Taylor Smolen, and Allison's husband, Brent Joel Smolen of Nashville, Tenn., who John thought of as the son he never had.

He resided in South Fulton, for most of his life, moving to Hendersonville, in his 60s, to be nearer to his children.

He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in English, and honed his journalistic abilities to become editor of the Fulton Leader, Weakley County Press in Martin, Tenn., and Hickman Courier.

He served as President oh the Western Kentucky Press Association (KPA), and President and founding member of the Hickman Rotary Club.

He made few enemies, garnered many friends during his career as a journalist and was very proud of the fairness he presented while covering local news and community events.

John was also a playwright, writing several plays which were performed at the University of Tennessee at Martin and at a community theatre in Memphis, Tenn.

John was very involved at Smith Street Church of Christ, serving as song leader, Deacon, and Sunday School Teacher.

His true loves were his family, his career, music (which coined him the nickname JJ Rock), and his church.

Though John was felled by a brain aneurysm in his mid 40s, he lived the remainder of his life with hope and positivity.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12 at the Obion County Memorial Gardens. There will be no visitation held and friends are asked to meet at thecemetery at the hour of service. It is requested those who plan to attend wear a mask for the services.

For those that would like to donate a memorial in John's honor, he would have requested Fulton Public Library, 312 Main Street, Fulton, KY 42041 or Obion County Public Library, 1221 E. Reelfoot Ave, Union City, TN 38261 or to Smith Street Church of Christ, 411 Smith Street, South Fulton, TN 38257.