Donald Chapman Jones

Donald Chapman Jones passed away peacefully on July 22, 2017. Don was a remarkable leader and a humble, caring and ethical man. He dedicated his 50 year career to medical association management, serving as the CEO of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) for the past 20 years and as the former Executive Director and CEO of the Florida Medical Association (FMA), where he spent the first 29 years of his career. In addition, Don served on the Advisory Committee to the Executive Vice President of the AMA from 1983 to 1990; and on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE), serving as its president in 1989. In 2001, he was awarded the AMA Executive Achievement Award for his service. As a strong leader and consummate professional, Don took pride in whatever he did. He was a Jacksonville native, graduating from Ribault High School and Jacksonville University while working numerous jobs. A self-professed workaholic, he worked nights, weekends and holidays and did everything from bagging groceries to mowing lawns to put himself through college.

On January 15, 2009, Don was one of the 155 aboard US Airways Flight 1549 that landed safely in the Hudson River in New York, known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” After being one of the first to jump out the front cabin door and into the icy waters of the Hudson, he clung to the right wing and credited his Johnston and Murphy dress shoes for keeping his feet insulated and preventing hypothermia. Don was a true patriot and expert of American History including Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers of our country. He loved his work in Washington, DC and always took great pride in the history surrounding him. He especially loved the history of the American Revolution and Williamsburg, Virginia and had hoped to one day volunteer to work for the Foundation upon his retirement.

Tradition and ceremony were always close to his heart from the time he became a father and was reading “The Night Before Christmas” to his son, daughter, grandchildren, nieces and nephews every Christmas Eve. He was an avid reader, a loyal Florida Gator fan, a collector of bald eagle statuary and prints, and a fan of old westerns, especially John Wayne.

Don is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sharon Hood Jones, his daughter, Amy Jones Bruns (Chip) of Winston-Salem, NC; son Donald Chapman Jones, II (Janice) of St. Augustine, FL; and five perfect grandsons, Zach, Will, Matt, Troupe and Mac; his mother, Lenora Jones Clark; sisters, Lenanne Jones Cofty (Huey), Elizabeth Jones Eckhardt (Bob) and Kathy Jones Franks (Richard); his brother, Jack M. Jones, III; his goddaughter Susan Taylor Osteen (Hal) as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack M. Jones, Jr. and his youngest brother, William G. Jones.

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 27th, from 5-7pm, at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel (4801 San Jose Blvd., Jax, FL 32207). A funeral Mass will be held at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (121 E Duval St, Jax, FL 32202) at 10am on Friday, July 28th, with burial following the Mass at Oaklawn Cemetery. A reception will be held immediately following the burial at the Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel. Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (www.history.org/donate or 1-888-293-1776).

They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

Isaiah 40:31