James Brandon Jones

Brandon was born in Blythe, Georgia, on March 26, 1930. He was the youngest of three children and grew up during the lean depression years in a rural farming community. Brandon attended the Augusta Military High School Academy his senior year, and after graduation, he attended a local junior college before joining the U.S. Army, where he served one year. He went on to finish his college education at Baylor University, where he met his bride-to-be, Sandra Cantrell of McGehee, Arkansas. They married on December 28, 1954. Brandon went to work for Farm Bureau Insurance, where he spent his entire career. He became the agency manager for Jefferson County in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he and Sandra lived and raised their family. When Brandon retired in 1999, he and Sandra moved to their vacation home on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, where they enjoyed hosting large family gatherings for their children and grandchildren every Summer. Brandon had a passion for missions and completed ten mission trips with his church. He served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Hot Springs and was later elected Chairman of the Deacons. He loved serving in the various outreach ministries of the church. In his early years, Brandon was an avid hunter and fisherman. As the years went by, his interests turned to golf, and he enjoyed regular outings with friends in Hot Springs.

Brandon is survived by his children, Brad Jones, Ric Jones, and Jill Windsor, as well as nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who affectionately knew him as “Pops.” He was preceded in death by his siblings and his beautiful wife, Sandra.

Brandon will be remembered fondly for his epic waffle breakfasts and boat rides for the grandchildren at the lake house, his devotion to ministry, his tireless work ethic, and the legacy of faith in Jesus that he passed on to his family.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 15th, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Hot Springs, 2350 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas.