Robert "Bob" Wayne Jones

January 3, 1934 - February 7, 2022

ROBERT W. “ BOB” JONES passed away on Monday, February 7, 2022 at Redmond Regional Medical Center in Rome, Georgia. He was born January 3, 1934 in Greer, South Carolina, son of Itie Dill and William Henry Jones. He graduated from Greer High School in 1952.

Bob was one of nine children coming from a humble mill family. As his father insisted for all his children, he went on to study and obtain degrees from North Greenville Junior College and Converse College in Spartanburg. While at Converse, he married his high school sweetheart, Rachel Lamb. He continued his education, simultaneously earning two Master’s degrees, one from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and another from Tulane University. He later did doctoral studies at George Peabody College for Teachers.

He began his teaching career at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas in 1966, moving to Rome in 1968 to begin teaching at Shorter College. During his years at Shorter, he taught voice, music history, opera literature, and conducted both the Women’s and Mixed Choruses. Because he felt strongly about giving back to the community, Bob also directed the Rome Boy’s Club Choir, leading that group on tours throughout the eastern seaboard of the United States as well as Canada.

Beginning when he was just 18, he served as Minister of Music in churches in South Carolina, Louisiana, Kansas, Georgia and Alabama for 67 years. In Rome he served Second Avenue, Shorter Avenue and Antioch Baptist Churches. Because of his passion and innate teaching ability, Bob was able to instill a love and appreciation of fine sacred music in both his choirs and congregations.

When he retired from Shorter after 30 years, he and Rachel enjoyed traveling throughout North America and Europe. He also pursued his life-long interest in woodworking, becoming a master cabinet maker, employing those skills as a volunteer for Carpenters for Christ, Habitat for Humanity, and many others in the community. He also was active in Gideons International.

Bob is survived by his three children, Wayne Jones, Janice Jones Lewis (William), and Karen Jones Schwall (Harrison). Survivors also also include granddaughter Rachel Renick (sam), and their two sons, Alexander and Oliver, as well as grandson Taff Jones.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Rachel Jones, along with his parents, his five brothers, Ted Jones, William Jones, Charles Jones, John Earl Jones and Jerry Jones and three sisters, Carolyn Pruitt, Julia Young and Winnie Satterfield.

The family will receive visitors at Second Avenue Baptist Church at 1:00pm Saturday, February 12, 2022 in the sanctuary. The funeral service will follow at 2:00pm at Second Avenue, followed by a graveside interment at Oaknoll Memorial Gardens, located at 2549 Shorter Ave. NW, in Rome.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gideons of Rome West, P.O. Box 3041, Rome, GA 30164-3041, or to Coosa Valley Habitat For Humanity, through their website, www.habitatcoosavalley.org, or mail or take your donations by Habitat For Humanity 504 East 1st. Avenue. Rome, Georgia 30161.

Funeral arrangements provided by Daniels Funeral Home.