Dr. Douglas Jerry Jones

Dr. Douglas Jerry Jones, 66, of Asheboro, went home to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009Doug, known as "Jerry" to his family, was born in Jenkinjones, West Virginia, Number Eight Mountain, on February 15, 1943. He was the fourth of six children born to William Clyde and Verda (Shrewsbury) Jones. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Education and later earned a Ph.D. in Education from Duke University. Doug had a religious calling to be an educator, and he served in this capacity to everyone and in each place that he lived. His dedication to his students stemmed from the special place in his heart which he had for children and the joy he felt in being around them. He started his career in education as a teacher at Cutter Middle School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he met his wife, Donna. After earning his Ph.D., he went on, from 1972 to 1979, to serve as principal of E.M. Yoder Elementary in Mebane, NC, and Assistant Superintendent of the Alamance County Public Schools. Doug was headmaster of Glade Valley School in Sparta, NC, from 1979 to 1981. He subsequently spent eight years as Assistant Superintendent of the Elizabeth City - Pasquotank County Public Schools. He finished his career in education with the Asheboro Public Schools from 1988 to 1999 where he served as principal of McCrary Elementary and as an administrator for the school system.In addition to his lifelong work as a leader in education, Doug was an active member of Balfour Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. Recently, Doug was a guest columnist for The Courier-Tribune. Doug loved the outdoors, Duke basketball, writing and talking about conservative politics, attending church and church activities, working with children, cooking for others, making beef jerky, and spending time with his family and friends. The above recitation of facts about his life, however, fails to express what an extraordinary person Doug was. As anyone who had the privilege of knowing him can attest, the essence of this man can best be summed up as "love." Rarely in this life do we have the opportunity to meet someone who loved others as much as Doug did. From the thousands of students he shepherded over the years, to his church, to his family, to total strangers, his selfless love for others is what he will, and should, be remembered for most. Doug's love was demonstrated by his boundless optimism, sense of humor, passion for living, and unselfish nature. He had a special place in his heart for children and their needs, and he always lovingly put the welfare of others before himself. Even at the end of his life, he was more concerned with how those he was leaving behind would feel than he was with his own fate, for he was certain that he would soon be with his Savior in Paradise. Doug's hope for everyone he left behind was that they would know the peace that comes with a personal relationship with Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior, and that we would all follow Christ's example of loving others as ourselves. Perhaps the epitaph which suits Doug best is that he left this world a far better place than he found it. His legacy is that everyone who knew him is the better for itHe is survived by his wife of nearly forty years, Donna Braun Jones; two sons, William Chadwick Jones of Williamsburg, VA, and Adam Michael Jones and his wife Cathy of Alexandria, VA; one grandson, Nicholas Michael Jones; two sisters, Columbia McDonough and husband Tom, and Jane Baker and husband David; three brothers, Denver Jones and girlfriend Julie, Shane Jones and wife Jan, and Alan Jones and wife Nancy; and many nephews and nieces. The family wishes to thank the SICU and CICU nurses and staff at Moses Cone hospital and the doctors at Southeastern Heart & Vascular Center and Carolina Kidney Associates, who provided such compassionate care during Doug's final stay at the hospital. The family also wishes to express special thanks to Dr. William Weatherly and Dr. Dan Jones for the special care and friendship extended during the past twenty years, as well as Dr. Peter Van Trigt and the doctors at Eagle Gastroenterology. The family will receive friends Friday, April 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pugh-Asheboro Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro. There will be a memorial celebration service at Balfour Baptist Church in Asheboro on Saturday, April 25 at 10 a.m. with Reverend Kenneth Reaves, Reverend Tim Lowry, Reverend Dale Elwell, and Reverend Bobby Blanton officiating. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Balfour Baptist Church mission offerings, 1642 N. Fayetteville St., Asheboro, N.C. 27205 or to the Douglas J. Jones Scholarship Fund, care of Asheboro City Schools Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1103, Asheboro, NC 27204 (checks should be payable to the Asheboro City Schools Education Foundation with a memo in his nameArrangements by Pugh-Asheboro Funeral Home.