James "Jimmy" Ivan Jones, Jr.

James Ivan “Jimmy” Jones, Jr., of Fayetteville, passed away on December 16, 2024, on his way to heaven.

James (Jimmy) Jones, Jr. was born in Fayetteville, NC to the late Emmalene and James Ivan Jones, Sr. on December 31, 1941. It was his Father that introduced him to his love for all things electronic and with a motor. His curiosity and knowledge were nurtured in the long hours the two of them spent repairing antique cars and radios in their garage.

Jimmy served his country in the United States Air Force during Vietnam as a radio repair tech and electrician. He spent much of that time in the Philippines. Where, in his ever constant desire to learn and understand everything around him, he documented, recorded and embraced much of the culture with pictures. He also found ways to serve others by keeping motorcycles and bicycles in working order for the local community.

After leaving the service, Jimmy began his 31 year career with the United Parcel Service (UPS). It was a time in the delivery industry when a driver knew the people on his route and if their dog tore his pant leg, they invited him to stay for lunch while they sewed them back up!

As always, his Mother looked out for his heart. In January of 1967, and a classic case of mother knows best, Emmalene introduced him to the love of his life, Carolyn Sykes. They married on October 27, 1967, and celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this year. Jimmy rarely left the yard on his motorcycle without Carolyn. They put many miles on their Honda Gold Wing. Together and with dozens of friends, they rode the winding highways of the mountains of Western Carolina. In both rain and shine they rode up and down the East Coast all the way to Maine.

Jimmy loved working on most things with a motor, but especially Honda motorcycles. In his younger days he spent most Saturday’s riding dirt bikes with his friends and then coming home to work on them in his garage. There may have been a time or two when Carolyn “neatly” placed a blanket and a pillow on his work bench. As he grew older the dirt bikes turned to Gold Wings and the Saturday rides became group rides with friends and spouses.

Never one to shy away from anything new, Jimmy embraced the age of computers. He became so well known for his talent and knowledge with Honda motorcycles through participation in online chatrooms, that even strangers broken down on I95 found their way to his garage and Carolyn’s porch for a repair and a glass of sweet tea.

His garage was always a place to have bikes repaired and friendship to flourish. A spot for neighbors to gather for repairs and fellowship. It was also a place for grandchildren to grow and to learn. For sons and grandsons, the garage was a place to learn about tools, repairs and how to treat both a sense of pride and respect. For daughters and granddaughters, it was a place you took any and everything for Papa to fix or build for you. For a son-in-law it was a place for him to be the shop gopher and an apprentice.

Jimmy was a good and faithful servant to First Baptist Church as a Deacon and a member of the Building Committee. He painted and repaired whenever there was a need with a spirit of gratitude for his Lord. Christmas at church was he and Carolyn’s favorite season. It was with a joyful heart and loving hands he built the stable for the church Christmas play.

An ever present Father to his daughter Stella, Father-in-law to William Hanson and son Mark Jones, Jimmy did his very best to bring every dream into a reality. He built for them a firm foundation made of love, faith and a window into what responsibility and compassion can accomplish.

As a Papa, Jimmy was a Mr. Fix-it, Mr. Build-it and Mr. Build-it Bigger grandfather to Jessica Downing, Thad Downing and his wife Jamie Beth; Blake Norris and his wife Jessica and Mark Jones, Jr.. He was blessed to meet his four greatgrandchildren; Asher, Collins, Emilia Downing and Camdyn Norris. His last few months before dementia took away his voice were spent playing with his greatgrandchildren at his feet.

Our memories of him will be forever vivid, our love for him will live on in our hearts, and his love for us will carry us forward. Happy Birthday in Heaven, Husband, Father, Papa and Friend.

James is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carolyn; his daughter, Stella R. Hanson and husband, LTC William D. Hanson (Retired); grandson, Mark Ivan Jones, Jr.; granddaughter, Jessica Reid Downing; grandson, Thaddeus D. Downing II and wife, Jamie Beth Downing; grandson, Jonathan Blake Norris and wife, Jessica Norris; and great grandchildren, Asher, Collins, and Emilia Downing and Camdyn Norris.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 11 am at First Baptist Church with Rev. A. Edward Beddingfield, Jr. presiding. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10 to 10:45 am in the Memorial Lounge at the church.

He was preceded in death by his son, Mark I. Jones.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church., 201 Anderson St., Fayetteville, NC 28301.

Services are entrusted to Sullivan's Highland Funeral Service & Crematory.