McMinnville resident and Warren County native Billy Lewis Jones, 81, was born Feb. 28, 1938 and died Nov. 6 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro following a brief illness.

The co-owner of Volunteer Motors Inc. and J&B Properties, he was the son of the late Chester and Virginia Ruth Watson Jones.

He was married to Gloria Grove Jones of McMinnville. In addition to his wife of 63 years, he is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Rhonda and John Pelham of McMinnville and Donna and McCaw Johnson of Ridgetop, four grandchildren and spouses, Zach and Diana Pelham of Nashville, Whitney and Dean Blankenship of McMinnville, and Weston Johnson and Parker Johnson, both of Ridgetop, two great-grandchildren, Abby and Cooper Blankenship of McMinnville, beloved niece Sheila Pitts Griffith of Ringgold, Ga.; and several other nieces, nephews and close friends.

Billy was saved in April of 1974, and was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of McMinnville. A self-taught, self-made American businessman, Billy sold anything from magazines to boats, campers and cars. He also made a career out of property investment and cabin rentals, as well as talking and telling stories to anybody who would listen. Above all, Billy was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who selflessly loved his family and set an example for what it means to be a man of God. He will be greatly missed by us all.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, at First Baptist Church with Jeff Owens officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. View Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday from 1 to 8 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at High’s. Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Southern Standard

(McMinnville, Tenn.) Nov. 8, 2019