DR. RONALD EMMETT JONES, SR.

Dr. Ronald E. Jones, Sr. of Donalsonville, GA (formerly of Tifton, GA and Clayton, AL) passed away Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, AL at the age of 83 after declining health in the past few years.

 Funeral services for Dr. Jones will be held on Sunday, March 19, 2023, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Donalsonville with Rev. Michael Wingertsahn and Dr. Ron McCaskill officiating and Kenneth Chance and Rome Ethredge giving the eulogy.  Burial will follow in Friendship Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 until 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Donalsonville. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Seminole County Warpath on Cancer 200 W. 10th Street Donalsonville, GA 39845.

Dr. Jones was born November 1, 1939, in Clayton, AL to Emmett Hill Jones and Oberon Chance Jones. 

He graduated from Clayton High School in 1958 and married Marcia Hudson, Louisville, AL on December 21, 1960. He earned a BS and MS from Auburn University and a PhD from the University of Tennessee. 

After graduation from the University of Tennessee, Ronald began a long career at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA from 1968 to 1994, holding positions as a professor and Head of the Agriculture Division of the college. Over the years he taught economics to a multitude of students and was the faculty sponsor for many activities, including the rodeo club and the soccer club. In 1994, he retired and enjoyed spending time with his family, continuing to work as a director with Farm Credit and the Sunbelt Exposition for many years. 

He served as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon for many years at Zion Hope Baptist Church in Tifton, GA and at First Baptist Church in Donalsonville, GA. He was especially devoted to prayer at home, at church, and anywhere he was. He regularly donated blood every time he was eligible until a health scare prevented him from continuing, and his example was an inspiration to others to do the same. 

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Kathy Lou Jones, Susan Jones, and Betty Sue Jones Myers. 

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marcia Hudson Jones, his sister Barbara Anne Ellis (Will), Georgetown, GA, son Ronald Emmett Jones, Jr. (Susan), Thompsons Station, TN, daughter Suzanne Ethredge (Rome), Donalsonville, GA, three grandchildren Haley Elizabeth Ethredge (Tyler), Thomasville, GA, Jesse Lee Ethredge (Laurie), Statesboro, GA, and Rachel Elizabeth Reed (Shane), Santa Fe, NM, three nephews Jimmy W. Ellis, Georgetown, GA, Jeff A. Ellis (Tammy), Northport, AL, Russell E. Ellis, Dothan, AL, and uncle John Earl Chance, Dothan, AL.