Johnnie L. Jones Jr.

 

Johnnie L. Jones Jr. passed away with his family by his side on Friday, December 22, 2023, at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport.  He was our miracle man.  Over the past ten years he had survived a major surgery and critical illnesses that could easily have killed a lesser man. But this past year was a tough one. In the end his strength had been sapped; he was so very tired and ready to go home. 

 

Johnnie was born in Magee, Mississippi in 1946, to Johnnie Loraine Jones, Sr. and Hazel Evans Jones.  As his father was full time military and often away from home, Johnnie spent much of his childhood in his grandparents’ home in Prentiss. There, he developed a life-long love of farming and country life.

 

Johnnie graduated from Central High School and enlisted in the Army.  The morning after his senior prom he left for Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He obtained a top-secret crypto security clearance while training at the US Army Security Agency Training Center and School in Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

 

Johnnie pursued a 44-year career in data processing and retired from Trustmark Bank as programmer/analyst in 2013.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, horses, and raising livestock.  He was always working and never quit a project before completion.  He loved gospel music and spent most of the last year of his life re-watching Larry’s Country Diner and Bill Gaither Homecoming specials. 

 

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mary Lee Crews Jones, his brother Sid, his 5 sons: Jeff of Wiggins, Jim of Pelahatchie, Johnnie of Clinton, Jeremy of Clinton, Justin (Chelsea) of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and his friend for life, John Shores.  Johnnie leaves 7 grandchildren – Lake, Jackson, Jordan, Cole, Carly, Jason, and Jack.  He had a special bond with the two youngest of his grandsons, who live nearby and with whom he shared a mutual fondness for horses and Elvis.

 

Through his many illnesses, the doctors and staff of Gulfport Memorial treated Johnnie and his family with genuine kindness and caring, for which we are forever grateful.

 

A "Celebration of Life" open house will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd, Biloxi.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 449 Mt. Zion Road, Mt. Olive, MS  39119.

 

The Riemann Family Funeral Home in West Jackson County is proudly serving the Jones family.  Share memories, condolences, and photos at www.riemannfamily.com