John O'Neal Jones

John O'Neal Jones, age 64, of Hendersonville, TN and formerly of South Fulton,
TN died peacefully at home on Friday, January 8, 2021.

He was born on October 31, 1956 in Fulton, KY.

Preceded in death by his mother and father, Ruth Montez Gambill Jones and
Brookson O'Neal Jones, he will be deeply missed by his wife, Karen Taylor
Jones, their two children, Melissa Neal Jones of Denver, CO and Allison Taylor
Smolen and Allison's husband, Brent Joel Smolen of Nashville, TN, who John
thought of as the son he never had.

John resided in South Fulton, TN for most of his life, moving to Hendersonville,
TN in his 60's to be nearer to his children. John graduated from the University of
Tennessee at Martin with a degree in English. John honed his journalistic abilities
to become editor of the Fulton Leader, Weakley County Press, and Hickman Courier.
John was President oh the Western Kentucky Press Association (KPA), and President
and founding member of the Hickman, KY Rotary Club. He made few enemies,
and garnered many friends during his career as a journalist and was very proud of
the fairness he presented while covering local news and community events. John
was also a playwright, writing several plays which were performed at the University
of Tennessee at Martin and at a community theatre in Memphis, TN.

John was very involved at Smith Street Church of Christ, serving as song leader,
Deacon, and Sunday School Teacher. John's true loves were his family, his
career, music (which coined him to the nickname JJ Rock), and his church.
Though John was felled by a brain aneurysm in his mid 40's, he lived the
remainder of his life with hope and positivity.

Graveside services will be held at 1PM Tuesday at the Obion County Memorial
Gardens. There will be no visitation held and friends are asked to meet at the
cemetery at the hour of service. We do ask that you wear a mask for the
services for Mr. Jones.

For those that would like to donate a memorial in John's honor, he would
have requested Fulton Public Library, 312 Main Street, Fulton, KY 42041
or Obion County Public Library, 1221 E. Reelfoot Ave, Union City, TN 38261
or to Smith Street Church of Christ, 411 Smith Street, South Fulton, TN 38257.