Obituary

Mr. Willie Johnnie Jones, 89, passed away Sunday, December 17, 2017, at the Vidant Inpatient Hospice Center in Greenville. A native of Greene County, he was born September 2, 1928, the son of Hubert and Pearl Shirley Jones. Willie was a graduate of the Snow Hill High School and a veteran of the US Army having served during the Korean War. For more than 60 years, he was the Supervisor and Manager of the Greene County ABC stores. Known for his trademark cigar, Willie loved Greene County and was an avid and passionate supporter of Greene Central High School Athletics, particularly baseball. Simply stated, he loved baseball. In addition to the high school program, Willie was the athletic director for the American Legion Post 94 baseball program for Greene County, making it a pinnacle program in years past. Willie’s devotion and support to baseball was recognized by 1989 with his induction into the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame and also in 2014 with his being awarded the Hot Stove League Hall of Fame in recognition of his many various contributions to baseball. Always a supporter of his community, he was a member of the American Legion, a Mason in the Snow Hill Radiance Lodge 132, a longtime member of Free Union OFWB Church, and one of the hardest working ticket sellers for events and raffles that supported athletics and other worthy causes.

Willie’s surviving family includes his wife of 66 years, Eleanor Ruth Pollard Jones; daughters, Dianne Jones Andrews and husband, Bobby who had been Willie’s caregiver for the last year, and Tammy Jones Merritt and husband, Danny, all of Snow Hill; grandchildren, Tracey Morris and husband, Randy, Brittany Merritt and Julie Merritt, all of Snow Hill; great-grandchildren, Lakyn Morris, who was the apple of his eye, and Maranda Morris; sisters, Nancy J. Flowers and husband, Jimmy of Wilson, and Nina J. Smith of Eureka; a sister-in-law, Linda H. Jones of Snow Hill; a longtime neighbor and friend, James “Rabbit” Fulghum; and several special nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Willie was preceded in death by a brother, Linwood E. “Possum” Jones; and sisters, Lula Hobbs and Ruby Jones.

Funeral services will be held 7 PM Tuesday, December 19, at the chapel of Taylor-Tyson Funeral Service. Committal Services will be held 11 AM Wednesday, December 20, at the Snow Hill Cemetery with Masonic Rites.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5:30 – 6:45 PM prior to the service and also immediately following. At other times, the family will be at the Jones residence. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Greene County Interfaith, PO Box 1041, Snow Hill, NC 28580. Online condolences at www.taylor-tyson.com