Reverend Vernon Jones, Jr.

The Reverend Vernon Algie Jones, Jr., age 91, died Saturday, November 14, 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Lillian Clark Jones. He is survived by his sister, Phyllis Hill, Ann Arbor, Michigan; daughters and sons-in-law: Frances Cecilia Peterson, Gilbert, AZ, Harriet "Lyn" and Charles Thompson, Tuskegee, AL, Lillian Vernelle and Jeffrey Rowser, Conyers, GA; grandchildren: Eric L. Fowler, Kristian and David Miller, Leslyn NaShawn and Sean Poitier, Kimberly and Clint Rhodes, Kayla Rowser, Hilary Rowser, Carmen Rowser; great-grandchildren: Ethan Poitier, Gabriel Poitier, and Amanda Miller; other family members Charles Thompson, Jr., Kellye Thompson, Natalie Miller; nephew and nieces, and many other loved ones. Vernon was born on September 19, 1924 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He was the oldest son of Vernon Jones and Harriet Rhodes Jones. He received his elementary and high school education at St. Paul's Normal and Industrial School in Lawrenceville, Virginia. His Bachelor's Degree was earned from Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA in 1945, and his Bachelor of Divinity from Bishop Payne Divinity School (Petersburg, VA) in 1948. He later earned his Masters of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. Reverend Jones was ordained to the diaconate in the Episcopal Church in 1948 in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. In June 1949 he was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests at Saint James' Church, Emporia, Virginia. Jones served several small churches in Southern Virginia prior to moving to Petersburg, Virginia where he was the Rector at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church until 1957. He was the second Vicar of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Tuskegee, Alabama and then the church's first Rector when the church achieved Parish status serving that community from 1957 until his retirement in 1990. After retirement, Vernon and Lillian moved to Montgomery, Alabama. He continued in ministry as a supply priest at several Montgomery area churches. He joined the congregation of Christ the Redeemer Episcopal Church and later All Saint's Episcopal Church. Vernon and Lillian moved to Conyers, Georgia in 2014. They attended St. Simon's Episcopal Church and participated in and assisted with chapel services at Remington House Assisted Living Facility. Memorial services will be held at St. Simon's Episcopal Church in Conyers, GA on Saturday, November 21 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contribution be made to the American Lung Association in his name. Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Rd., Conyers, GA, 770-483-7216.

Reverend Vernon Jones, Jr.

September 19, 1924 - November 14, 2015