J.W. Jones

Mr. J.W. Jones, 93, died in Shreveport on November 9, 2021. Visitation will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday, November 14, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 15, 2021 at Rose-Neath Chapel. Interment will follow at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd. in Shreveport. Officiating the service will be Rev. Willis Dear. Mr. Jones was born in South Carolina and graduated from Laurel Hill, North Carolina High School, and attended the University of North Carolina on a baseball scholarship. He served three years in the U.S. Air Force at the end of World War II serving in the occupation of Japan. He received an honorable discharge in 1949 with several commendations. He signed a baseball contract with the Shreveport Sports in 1950. He was an all-star catcher for the Sports playing in Shreveport on the Texas League for seven years and a total of 10 years in the Texas League. Mr. Jones joined the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office in late 1960 and served under five sheriffs. He rose through ranks and retired in 1992 as Assistant Chief. Mr. Jones attended numerous schools on law enforcement and graduated from Texas A&M in 1974 in the School of Polygraph. Mr. Jones was a member of Christ United Methodist Church where he served as president of the Joy Sunday School Class. He also served as an usher, chairman of the Wednesday morning Men's Prayer Group, and was a member of the Methodist Men's Group and member of the Joyful Noise Choir. Mr. Jones was a member of the Louisiana State Polygraph Board, American Legion, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) E.G. Huckabay Lodge, Louisiana Peace Officer's Association, Old Timer Baseball Association of Shreveport, and the Summer Grove Lions Club. He enjoyed fishing, cooking for his Methodist morning men every Wednesday at 6 a.m. He loved to travel with his wife. Jay was well known and respected by his peers, especially those in law enforcement. He was a man of high character and never met a stranger. He loved to make people laugh and to feel at ease. He will be missed by many friends who loved him dearly. We love you Jay. Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his father, William H. Jones; mother, Emma W. Jones; brother, Willie (Puddin' Head Jones); sister, Margaret Elizabeth Jones; and wife, Vivian P. Jones. He is survived by his son, Jeffrey W. Jones (Fort Wayne, IN) and wife, Donna; daughter, Pamela J. Gudritz (Hot Springs Village, AR) and husband, Rex; four grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer Maffucci (Chicago, IL) and husband, Steve; Dr. Lisa Jones (Rochester, NY); Courtney Gilbert (Springtown, TX) and husband, Daniel; and Skylar Geer (Elkhorn, NE) and wife, Hilary; and five great-grandchildren, Rosalee Maffucci, Axel Gilbert; Olivia Gilbert, Vivianne Geer, and Nola Geer. Honoring Jay as pallbearers will be Jeffrey Jones, Rex Gudritz, Skylar Geer, Daniel Gilbert, Stephen Maffucci, Nicholas Arno, James Flurry, and Mike Byrd. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Joy Sunday School Class and the Wednesday Morning Prayer Group.