Rev. Jesse Bone Sr.

1937 - 2021

(1937-2021)
GASTONIA, NC- On February 5, 2021, Rev. Jesse Bone, Sr., a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away at the age of 83.
On September 16, 1937, Jesse was born to Earl and Sarah Jewel (Jordan) Bone in Butler, GA. He was raised on a farm and had a strong faith in Jesus from an early age. He completed his first reading of the entire Bible by age 7 and was ordained as a Free Will Baptist minister at the age of 16. Jesse earned his BA at Mercer University, where he met his wife, of 61 years, Mary Louise (Savage) Bone. He completed his Master's Degree in Divinity at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Doctorate in Ministry Degree at Drew University.
Jesse served as minister at Kenly Free Will Baptist Church (Kenly, NC) while attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jesse then became a member of the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served as the minister of Salemburg UMC (Salemburg, NC) and as Associate Minister of Front Street UMC (Burlington, NC). He then served as minister of Saxapahaw UMC (Saxapahaw, NC), Fuquay-Varina UMC (Fuquay-Varina, NC), Emmanuel UMC (Burlington, NC). Next, Jesse served as Director of Deaf Ministries for the Oklahoma Conference, UMC, and then moved back to NC, serving Winstead UMC (Wilson, NC), Davis Street UMC (Burlington, NC), Market Street UMC (Wilmington, NC), Saint Luke UMC (Laurinburg, NC), Simpson UMC (Simpson, NC) and East Rockingham UMC (Rockingham, NC).
Jesse was a kind, gentle person and a dedicated minister and servant of God. He developed ministries for the deaf in several communities he served, and he was a strong advocate for mission work, having served as the Conference Missionary Secretary in the NC Conference (UMC) for a number of years. Jesse enjoyed reading Scripture in Hebrew and Greek. He translated and self-published several annotated translations of Books of the Gospels. He also self-published several books of devotions and was active in prison ministries and the Emmaus Walk program during his ministry.
Jesse enjoyed tent camping with his family and then camping in a camper with his wife, Mary. Upon retirement, they traveled North America in their camper, sending postcards to their grandchildren from wherever they traveled. Jesse and Mary then settled in Gastonia, NC, where they became active members of Myers Memorial UMC.
Jesse Bone, Sr. is preceded in death by his parents (Earl and Jewel Bone), an infant sister (Earline) and an infant son (Kent). Jesse is survived by his loving wife (Mary), children (Jesse Bone, Jr., Lisa Bone Horne, Marjorie Bone and David Bone), siblings (Frederick Bone, Mark Bone, Norma Jean Gay, Naomi Posey and Grace Dennard), 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private, family funeral service will be held. In lieu of flowers, financial gifts may be given as a memorial to Launch Global's Jesse V. Bone, Sr. Memorial Fund or the Gary Wayne Locklear Missions Endowment of the NC Conference (UMC). Checks for Launch Global's Jesse V. Bone, Sr. Memorial Fund may be mailed to PO Box 830650, Richardson, TX 75083. Please make checks payable to Launch Global, with Jesse V. Bone Sr. Memorial Fund in the memo line. Donations also may be made online at launchglobal.org/giving by choosing the Jesse V. Bone Sr. Memorial Fund in the drop down menu for staff persons. Checks for the Gary Wayne Locklear Mission Endowment (UMC) may be sent to Conference Treasurer-Raleigh Area, P.O. Box 890202, Charlotte, NC 28289-0202. Please make the check payable to NC Conference with GWL Mission Endowment on the memo line. Donations may also be made online at https://nccumc.org/treasurer/mission-endowment-form/.
The family expresses its gratitude to Senior TLC, Myers Memorial UMC and Gaston Community Church for their care, love and support.
McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia is serving the Bone family where an online guest register is available at www.mcleanfuneral.com