Nathaniel "Nat" Jones

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James Sidney Jones and Elizabeth Womble Jones; James Erwin Henry and Nancy Catherine Thomason Henry; parents, James Roy Jones and Lassie Belle Henry Jones; and sister, BeBe Loretta Cosby. He is survived by his wife, Maurita (Rita) Allen Jones, daughter Denby Ann Potts (Danny), son Allan Sidney Jones (Jenny), and grandsons Matthew Warren Potts (Olivia), Sidney Hudson Jones, and James Nathaniel (Nathan) Jones, and brother, James Ray Jones. He had a very special fur baby, Sophie.

The youngest of three children, Nat was born on Nov. 3, 1942. As a boy growing up in Tuscumbia, AL, he learned at a very young age the strong values he would carry and demonstrate throughout his life: the importance of hard work, dedication to family, and service to others, which in turn gave rise to his ambition for education and his main accomplishment of being an exemplary husband, father, and grandfather. At any given time, Nat could be found explaining the stock market or fifth-grade math, world religions or creek baptisms, political policies and social movements, how to shoot a gun or bait a hook, or simply how to lead the neighborhood association. In short, he could speak to many subjects, no matter how great or small. Raising his children and grandchildren with Rita was Nat’s passion. God and family were Nat’s focuses in life, and he set a mighty example for serving both.

Nat graduated from Deschler High School in 1960 and then served in the U.S. Army National Reserves, Special Forces (Airborne). He proceeded to the University of North Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and then completed his graduate studies at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where he obtained his MBA. For his career, Nat worked for AT&T in the field of telecommunications, specifically in Econometrics / Demand Analysis, and he was instrumental in designing the LATA’s for the five states of South Central Bell. Nat retired from executive management in 2001.

While living in Tuscaloosa, Nat served his community by being an active member of the Jaycees, having served as Chapter President of the Tuscaloosa Jaycees and Vice-President of the Alabama Jaycees. He was a lifetime member of AT&T Pioneers and was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution along with his son and grandson. He was a genealogy enthusiast who researched family back to the 1740’s, and his research has been published in several genealogy papers and books.

Nat married the love of his life, Maurita Allen Jones, in June of 1966, and they were to celebrate 60 years together this upcoming June. Nat shared everything with Rita, and in return, she supported him through every hardship and triumph; his proudest accomplishment was the family they built together. It is this element of togetherness that has been indelibly etched on the hearts of his children, showing them by example the way to successfully lead a family. Nat and Rita could easily be found hunting and fishing, attending sports practices and games at all hours and locations, and supporting their children and grandchildren through every discovery, whether it be at a field, lake, school, special needs event, or in the backyard watching the birds.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Autism Society of Alabama at P.O. Box 661304, Birmingham, AL 35266 or you can donate online via their website: Autism Society of Alabama.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, with a service to follow at 12:30 in the chapel at Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham. Graveside will conclude the service in the adjoining cemetery.