Jabez Jarrett Jones

Jabez Jarrett Jones, age 88 of Toccoa, Georgia, passed away Thursday September 15, 2022 at his home. The son of the late Ramsay Doyle and Margaret (Peggy) Jarrett Jones, he was born February 12, 1934 in Oconee, South Carolina. He was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church and attended First Baptist Church of Toccoa. After graduating from Toccoa High School in 1953, he attended Piedmont College. While still in high school, Jabez joined the Georgia National Guard and in 1956, he went to work for them full time in Toccoa where worked until his retirement in 1989. During his over 39 years of full-time service in the Georgia National Guard, he attained the rank of First Sergeant which he held for 14 years. In addition, he was awarded the Georgia Commendation Medal for “personal sacrifice and devotion to duty”.

Jabez was very active in his community. In 1974, he helped organize the Shiloh Volunteer Fire Department. He was voted their first chief which he held for 15 years. In 1977, he was appointed Coordinator of all the volunteer fire departments in Stephens County, a position he held for 12 years. During his tenure, he was instrumental in getting the Shiloh Volunteer Fire Department building constructed as well as obtaining new fire trucks for volunteer fire departments county wide. In 1981, Jabez was appointed to serve on the board of the Stephens County Development Authority.

Jabez enjoyed hunting and was an active member of Toccoa Deer Hunter’s Club for 57 years. In addition, Jabez was passionate about racing, a sport he participated in various capacities for over 50 years. Jabez was a car owner for Sam Sosebee, TC Hunt and his son, Jabe. As a driver, he won more than 350 races in his career at tracks in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. In addition, he was one of the original organizers of Georgia-Carolina No. 1 Racing Association. For his many accomplishments and for contributions to the sport, Jabez was inducted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in 2017.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Jean Jones Childs; brother Jack Jones and two brothers-in-law Bruce Childs and Fred Northcutt. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Virginia Smith Jones; son Jabez Ramsay Jones (Cassandra Vaughn Jones); grandson Shannon Cole Jones (Katy Pieve); sister Margaret Ann Northcutt and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Saturday September 17, 2022 from 6-8. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, September 18, 2022 at Hillcrest Chapel Acree-Davis Funeral Home with the Reverend David Ritcey officiating. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers, Shannon Jones, Ken Northcutt, Blayne Pace, Logan Pace, Joe Droll and Dale Meeks.

Honorary pallbearers include Georgia National Guard 82nd Maintenance Company, Toccoa Deer Hunters Club, Donald Smith, James Smith, Russell Smith and Greg Smith  

Entombment will follow at the Tugaloo Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Westminister, South Carolina with the Rev. Tim Miller officiating.                            

Military Honors will be provided by the Georgia National Guard Honor Guard

Acree-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements for Mr. Jabez Jones