Elvin Jones

Elvin was born April 7, 1927, in Preston, Kemper County, Mississippi. He was the son of Tom and Gertrude Jones. In June of 1945, at the age of 18, Elvin joined the United States Army. Elvin was sent to Camp Shelby, then later to Ft. Bliss, Texas. From there he went to Camp Pickett, Virginia for MP School. Crossing to France, Elvin arrived in Germany at the end of 1945. He remained in Germany for one year following World War II, he was later honorably discharged at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. Elvin returned home to Mississippi and 20 days later reenlisted at Keesler Field, Mississippi. Elvin was sent to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina and then to the Philippines before arriving in Okinawa in 1947. During his time in Okinawa he met Wanda Brown.

Elvin returned to the United States in 1949 and was assigned to Ft. Hood, Texas. Elvin and Wanda was united in marriage on August 1, 1949. In December of 1949, Elvin reenlisted in Oklahoma City, and sent to Ft. Riley, Kansas, he later started welding school in Maryland. Elvin was assigned to the 2nd Division at Ft. Lewis, Washington State. At the outbreak of the Korean War in the summer of 1950, Elvin was deployed with that division to Pusan, Korea. The Chinese entered the War in November of 1950, and during that time the 2nd Division was struck Hard. Elvin and several other members were captured by the Chinese. Elvin was wounded and forced to march in excess of 700 miles back to the Chinese prison camp. Elvin was a prisoner of war and successfully escaped following six months of horrendous treatment by his captors and returned back to the American lines. After a 30-day stay at a hospital in Japan, Elvin returned home to the United States being assigned to Ft. Gordon, Georgia.

From 1953 thru 1965, Elvin and Wanda lived in Japan, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Italy, Ft. Bliss, Texas and Korea. Elvin, retired from military life in 1969. Following retirement, Elvin moved his family to Midland, Texas. During his time there he began working as a Sheriff’s Deputy for several years and later moved to Cleveland in 1972. Elvin began working for the Cleveland Police Department and later accepted employment with Chapman-Black Funeral Home. During his time working at the funeral home Elvin acquired his name Jonesy; which followed along with the tradition of all the guy’s names. Jonesy worked at the funeral home for over 22 years when he retired in 1995. During the years he and Wanda resided in the funeral home while also maintaining a residence on Terlton Road.

Following the death of Wanda in 1999, Jonesy returned to Mississippi in 2000. He remained there for until 2010. He returned to Cleveland where he remained for several years and had currently been residing once again in Mississippi for the past several years.

Jonesy enjoyed raising horses. He loved helping others and loved being around his family and grandchildren. Jonesy enjoyed sitting down and talking with people and listening to what they had to say. Jonesy was also the caretaker of the Dixie-Bear Creek Cemetery for many years until he moved in 2000. Jonesy was a very modest man and never boasted about his accomplishments such as the Purple Heart or the Army Commendation Medal or how he endured and escaped from his captors.
Jonesy passed from this life on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at the Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi.

Survivors are his Son Corky Jones and his wife Margaret of Pryor, Oklahoma; two daughters Lori and Steve McCowan of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Janaa Cole of Midland, Texas; one brother Cecil Jones of Pascagoula, Mississippi; sister Hessie Mae Fleming of Meridian, Mississippi; grandchildren Kevin McCowan and his wife Ashly of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Cullen McCowan and his wife Jennifer of Jenks, Oklahoma; four great grandchildren Lillian, Tate, Olivia, Cody, three sister in laws Mary Trimble of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Wilma Gill of Dayton, Ohio, Gennie Apuan of Phoenix, Arizona and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Wanda, two sons Steve and Rick; four brothers William Thomas Jones, James Bernard Jones, Bernice Wilbur Jones, Benjamin Edwin Jones, three sisters Minnie Opel, Ruth Evelyn, Holly Henley.

Graveside Services will be held 10:00 am Monday, February 22, 2016 at Dixie-Bear Creek Cemetery with Rev. Dan Edens officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Fifth District Rifle Squad. Burial will be in the Dixie-Bear Creek Cemetery under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home.