Services will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Thursday October 23 at Hulett-Winstead Chapel for AJ Jones, age 93, of Hattiesburg, who died October 18, 2014, at his home. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M. prior to the service.
Mr. Jones was born in Hattiesburg on November 11, 1920, to Albert Jessie Jones and Nettie Ruth Moragne Jones. He joined Court Street Methodist Church, attended Court Street/Walthall School, and graduated from Hattiesburg High School. He loved baseball and played in the Friendly Indian League and on the first local American Legion team. As a teenager he traveled around the state playing for the Hercules semi-pro men's team. Babe Ruth encouraged him to try out for the Yankees, but his father believed that a college education was more important than a baseball career. He turned down an offer to play professional baseball and entered State Teacher's College (USM).
After the United States entered World War II, Mr. Jones joined the Navy. While training as a Naval aviator he flew under the bridge on the Columbia River at Astoria, Oregon, and surprised an Army Base by making a carrier landing on their runway. He buzzed his family and friends in Hattiesburg, flew between the buildings on Main Street, and performed aerial acrobatics above the depot.
Mr. Jones served as a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He flew a Wildcat fighter with the VC86 Composite Squadron from the USS Bismarck Sea. His squadron supported the invasion of Luzon, helped land Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Leyte, sank two Japanese destroyers, and strafed Iwo Jima before the Marines landed. He survived a kamikaze attack that sank the USS Bismarck Sea and was rescued in time to see the raising of the US flag on Mount Suribachi. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals.
After the war, Mr. Jones returned to Hattiesburg, married Ruth Jacqueline "Jacq" Polk on August 29, 1946, and had three children. He joined First Baptist Church, served on the Finance Committee, and managed its softball team for many years. For him baseball progressed to softball, and he continued to play until age 75. He maintained contact with his VC86 squadron and attended and planned many of their annual reunions. The Joneses celebrated their 50th anniversary with a come-as-you-are reception in the same home and with the same menu as their wedding reception. After his retirement, he traveled with family and friends and joined Main Street Baptist Church.
Mr. Jones was in the automobile finance business for almost forty years with Federal Credit Company and Polk Cadillac Motors. He also worked briefly with sales and collections at Central Electric Company, Hattiesburg Grocery, and Highway Express. He served on the boards of the Hattiesburg Public Schools, the YMCA, the Hattiesburg Area Historical Society, and the Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera. He was a founding member of the Century Club and the Hardwood Club. They were later combined to form the USM Eagle Club. He was a member of the Hattiesburg Country Club and the Hattiesburg Civic Association.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his brother Dr. Cecil Ray Jones.
Memorials may be made to Hattiesburg Area Historical Society Museum (Post Office Box 1573; Hattiesburg, MS 39403-1573) or Main Street Baptist Church (11 Main Street Boulevard; Hattiesburg, MS 39402).
Mr. Jones was born in Hattiesburg on November 11, 1920, to Albert Jessie Jones and Nettie Ruth Moragne Jones. He joined Court Street Methodist Church, attended Court Street/Walthall School, and graduated from Hattiesburg High School. He loved baseball and played in the Friendly Indian League and on the first local American Legion team. As a teenager he traveled around the state playing for the Hercules semi-pro men's team. Babe Ruth encouraged him to try out for the Yankees, but his father believed that a college education was more important than a baseball career. He turned down an offer to play professional baseball and entered State Teacher's College (USM).
After the United States entered World War II, Mr. Jones joined the Navy. While training as a Naval aviator he flew under the bridge on the Columbia River at Astoria, Oregon, and surprised an Army Base by making a carrier landing on their runway. He buzzed his family and friends in Hattiesburg, flew between the buildings on Main Street, and performed aerial acrobatics above the depot.
Mr. Jones served as a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He flew a Wildcat fighter with the VC86 Composite Squadron from the USS Bismarck Sea. His squadron supported the invasion of Luzon, helped land Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Leyte, sank two Japanese destroyers, and strafed Iwo Jima before the Marines landed. He survived a kamikaze attack that sank the USS Bismarck Sea and was rescued in time to see the raising of the US flag on Mount Suribachi. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals.
After the war, Mr. Jones returned to Hattiesburg, married Ruth Jacqueline "Jacq" Polk on August 29, 1946, and had three children. He joined First Baptist Church, served on the Finance Committee, and managed its softball team for many years. For him baseball progressed to softball, and he continued to play until age 75. He maintained contact with his VC86 squadron and attended and planned many of their annual reunions. The Joneses celebrated their 50th anniversary with a come-as-you-are reception in the same home and with the same menu as their wedding reception. After his retirement, he traveled with family and friends and joined Main Street Baptist Church.
Mr. Jones was in the automobile finance business for almost forty years with Federal Credit Company and Polk Cadillac Motors. He also worked briefly with sales and collections at Central Electric Company, Hattiesburg Grocery, and Highway Express. He served on the boards of the Hattiesburg Public Schools, the YMCA, the Hattiesburg Area Historical Society, and the Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera. He was a founding member of the Century Club and the Hardwood Club. They were later combined to form the USM Eagle Club. He was a member of the Hattiesburg Country Club and the Hattiesburg Civic Association.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his brother Dr. Cecil Ray Jones.
Memorials may be made to Hattiesburg Area Historical Society Museum (Post Office Box 1573; Hattiesburg, MS 39403-1573) or Main Street Baptist Church (11 Main Street Boulevard; Hattiesburg, MS 39402).
Services will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Thursday October 23 at Hulett-Winstead Chapel for AJ Jones, age 93, of Hattiesburg, who died October 18, 2014, at his home. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M. prior to the service.
Mr. Jones was born in Hattiesburg on November 11, 1920, to Albert Jessie Jones and Nettie Ruth Moragne Jones. He joined Court Street Methodist Church, attended Court Street/Walthall School, and graduated from Hattiesburg High School. He loved baseball and played in the Friendly Indian League and on the first local American Legion team. As a teenager he traveled around the state playing for the Hercules semi-pro men's team. Babe Ruth encouraged him to try out for the Yankees, but his father believed that a college education was more important than a baseball career. He turned down an offer to play professional baseball and entered State Teacher's College (USM).
After the United States entered World War II, Mr. Jones joined the Navy. While training as a Naval aviator he flew under the bridge on the Columbia River at Astoria, Oregon, and surprised an Army Base by making a carrier landing on their runway. He buzzed his family and friends in Hattiesburg, flew between the buildings on Main Street, and performed aerial acrobatics above the depot.
Mr. Jones served as a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He flew a Wildcat fighter with the VC86 Composite Squadron from the USS Bismarck Sea. His squadron supported the invasion of Luzon, helped land Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Leyte, sank two Japanese destroyers, and strafed Iwo Jima before the Marines landed. He survived a kamikaze attack that sank the USS Bismarck Sea and was rescued in time to see the raising of the US flag on Mount Suribachi. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals.
After the war, Mr. Jones returned to Hattiesburg, married Ruth Jacqueline "Jacq" Polk on August 29, 1946, and had three children. He joined First Baptist Church, served on the Finance Committee, and managed its softball team for many years. For him baseball progressed to softball, and he continued to play until age 75. He maintained contact with his VC86 squadron and attended and planned many of their annual reunions. The Joneses celebrated their 50th anniversary with a come-as-you-are reception in the same home and with the same menu as their wedding reception. After his retirement, he traveled with family and friends and joined Main Street Baptist Church.
Mr. Jones was in the automobile finance business for almost forty years with Federal Credit Company and Polk Cadillac Motors. He also worked briefly with sales and collections at Central Electric Company, Hattiesburg Grocery, and Highway Express. He served on the boards of the Hattiesburg Public Schools, the YMCA, the Hattiesburg Area Historical Society, and the Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera. He was a founding member of the Century Club and the Hardwood Club. They were later combined to form the USM Eagle Club. He was a member of the Hattiesburg Country Club and the Hattiesburg Civic Association.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his brother Dr. Cecil Ray Jones.
Memorials may be made to Hattiesburg Area Historical Society Museum (Post Office Box 1573; Hattiesburg, MS 39403-1573) or Main Street Baptist Church (11 Main Street Boulevard; Hattiesburg, MS 39402).
Mr. Jones was born in Hattiesburg on November 11, 1920, to Albert Jessie Jones and Nettie Ruth Moragne Jones. He joined Court Street Methodist Church, attended Court Street/Walthall School, and graduated from Hattiesburg High School. He loved baseball and played in the Friendly Indian League and on the first local American Legion team. As a teenager he traveled around the state playing for the Hercules semi-pro men's team. Babe Ruth encouraged him to try out for the Yankees, but his father believed that a college education was more important than a baseball career. He turned down an offer to play professional baseball and entered State Teacher's College (USM).
After the United States entered World War II, Mr. Jones joined the Navy. While training as a Naval aviator he flew under the bridge on the Columbia River at Astoria, Oregon, and surprised an Army Base by making a carrier landing on their runway. He buzzed his family and friends in Hattiesburg, flew between the buildings on Main Street, and performed aerial acrobatics above the depot.
Mr. Jones served as a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He flew a Wildcat fighter with the VC86 Composite Squadron from the USS Bismarck Sea. His squadron supported the invasion of Luzon, helped land Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Leyte, sank two Japanese destroyers, and strafed Iwo Jima before the Marines landed. He survived a kamikaze attack that sank the USS Bismarck Sea and was rescued in time to see the raising of the US flag on Mount Suribachi. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals.
After the war, Mr. Jones returned to Hattiesburg, married Ruth Jacqueline "Jacq" Polk on August 29, 1946, and had three children. He joined First Baptist Church, served on the Finance Committee, and managed its softball team for many years. For him baseball progressed to softball, and he continued to play until age 75. He maintained contact with his VC86 squadron and attended and planned many of their annual reunions. The Joneses celebrated their 50th anniversary with a come-as-you-are reception in the same home and with the same menu as their wedding reception. After his retirement, he traveled with family and friends and joined Main Street Baptist Church.
Mr. Jones was in the automobile finance business for almost forty years with Federal Credit Company and Polk Cadillac Motors. He also worked briefly with sales and collections at Central Electric Company, Hattiesburg Grocery, and Highway Express. He served on the boards of the Hattiesburg Public Schools, the YMCA, the Hattiesburg Area Historical Society, and the Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera. He was a founding member of the Century Club and the Hardwood Club. They were later combined to form the USM Eagle Club. He was a member of the Hattiesburg Country Club and the Hattiesburg Civic Association.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his brother Dr. Cecil Ray Jones.
Memorials may be made to Hattiesburg Area Historical Society Museum (Post Office Box 1573; Hattiesburg, MS 39403-1573) or Main Street Baptist Church (11 Main Street Boulevard; Hattiesburg, MS 39402).
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