Jesse Malone "JP"

October 16, 1933-September 12, 2025

JP Malone, 91, of Leeds, passed away September 12, 2025, at UAB Medical Center. Born and raised in Nashville, he moved to Birmingham in the 1950s as a salesman for Neuhoff Packing Company. In Birmingham, he met his first wife, Betty Fowler Malone, and they were married for 40 years.

JP is known for his kindness, his love for his family, friends, and the Auburn University Tigers, his athleticism, his gardening ability, his funny stories, and his sense of humor.

He was also known for his golf game, despite his putting skills that earned him the nickname, Jabbin’ Jesse. Even so, he won numerous club championships at Terry Walker Country Club and other tournaments. JP played high school basketball and semi-pro baseball in Nashville. Legend has it that he was drafted by the Pirates as a catcher but unfortunately his batting skills were matched only by his putting skills.

JP was a master plumber who freely donated his time and talents to his friends and his beloved church. He retired after a long career at Brown Mechanical Contractors in Birmingham and was a member of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 91 for 68 years. He supervised jobs at UAB, US Steel, Marshall Spaceflight Center, Redstone Arsenal, and many others.

He grew the most beautiful flowers.

In addition to Betty, he is preceded in death by his brother, Fred Malone; his parents, Jesse Prue Malone and Katie Steele Malone; and his step-grandson, Jeffrey Skinner.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, JoAnn Malone of Leeds; his only child, Jay McClendon of Charlottesville, VA; and his stepson, Alan Skinner of Leeds; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

JP and JoAnn have requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Leeds First Baptist

Church’s Fellowship Hall chair fund.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 20, at Leeds First Baptist Church, under the care of Kilgroe Funeral Home. Visitation is at 1 p.m., and burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

JP is loved and missed by everyone who ever knew him.