John Jones

John O’Neal Jones, 64, of Hendersonville, formerly of South Fulton, died peacefully at home on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.
He was born Oct. 31, 1956, in Fulton.
Preceded in death by his mother and father, Ruth Montez Gambill Jones and Brookson O’Neal Jones, he will be deeply missed by his wife, Karen Taylor Jones; their two children, Melissa Neal Jones of Denver, Colo., and Allison Taylor Smolen and Allison’s husband, Brent Joel Smolen, of Nashville, who John thought of as the son he never had.
John resided in South Fulton for most of his life, moving to Hendersonville, in his 60s to be nearer to his children. John graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in English. John honed his journalistic abilities to become editor of the Fulton Leader, Weakley County Press and Hickman (Ky.) Courier.
John was president of the Western Kentucky Press Association (KPA) and president and founding member of the Hickman, Ky., Rotary Club. He made few enemies and garnered many friends during his career as a journalist and was very proud of the fairness he presented while covering local news and community events. John was also a playwright, writing several plays which were performed at the University of Tennessee at Martin and at a community theater in Memphis.
John was very involved at Smith Street Church of Christ, serving as song leader, Deacon and Sunday School teacher. John’s true loves were his family, his career, music (which coined him to the nickname JJ Rock), and his church. Though John was felled by a brain aneurysm in his mid-40s, he lived the remainder of his life with hope and positivity.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Obion County Memorial Gardens. There will be no visitation and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery at the hour of service. Attendees are asked to wear a mask for services.
Donations as a memorial in John’s honor may be sent to Fulton Public Library, 312 Main St., Fulton, KY 42041; Obion County Public Library, 1221 East Reelfoot Ave., Union City, TN 38261; or Smith Street Church of Christ, 411 Smith St., South Fulton, TN 38257.
Hornbeak Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.