January 27, 2021, 83, Goldsboro –
William Gene Jones passed away on January 27, 2021 at the NC State Veteran’s Home in Kinston. By faith, he has entered his eternal home with God. Gene was born June 15, 1937 in Marshville, NC and was raised in the Laurel Hill area of Laurenburg by his mother Odessa Ray Jones and his maternal grandparents. He attended Laurel Hill High School and continued his studies at Pembroke College, majoring in Biology. He played football during high school and college and was an avid fan of the Duke Blue Devils.
After graduating from college, he enlisted in the USAF and served as a communications specialist from 1959-1979 in Turkey and Germany as well as several stateside bases. Upon retirement, his family settled in Dudley, NC. Gene and his wife Ada attended Emmaus Baptist Church of Dudley where he enjoyed singing in the church choir and was an active member of the Johnny Sasser senior adult Sunday School class. They worked together on the Goldsboro Oncology Relay 4 Life team for a number of years.
Gene began working at Lowe’s of Goldsboro in the paint department and worked there until he retired in 1999. He enjoyed both his career jobs and made many good friends.
The last 15 years of his life were spent in Goldsboro, first on Harding Drive, then at Brookdale Senior Living on Country Day Road. He moved to the NC Veteran’s Home in Kinston in January 2020, due to a decline in health.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his son-in-law Wayne D. Hawkins. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Ada Rose Massey S. Jones of Goldsboro: Two sisters, Doris (Ron) Moore and Glenda Taylor of South Carolina: Three step-children, Donnie (Olivia) Strickland of Goldsboro, Dannie (Vicky) Strickland of Clinton and Miranda Strickland Hawkins of Woodstock, Virginia: Seven Grandchildren, Clark (Lori) Strickland and Natalie (Chad) Blackmon of Clinton, Jamie Lewis of Goldsboro, Edye (Travis) Kornegay of New Bern, DeLacy Hawkins of New Market, Virginia, Rosanna (Robert) Winner of Edinburg, Virginia and Leah (Conrad) Boyle of San Diego, California: Twelve Great grandchildren: one great-great granddaughter: two brothers-in-law, Carl (Rosemary) Massey, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed. Sing with the angels Papa!
A service of love and remembrance will be held on Sunday at 2:00 P.M.in the chapel of Shumate-Faulk with Rev. Jim Willoughby officiating. Committal services will be held at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 at the funeral home.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home is serving the Jones family and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
