James Jones

James Ervin Jones, known by all as Bebo, died Thursday, January 29, 2009. He was 93. Mr. Jones was born November 1, 1915, the son of John Edwin Jones and Annie Moore Jones. He spent his entire life in the Safford community while he was the proprietor for many years of Safford Cash Store. He was the second of three generations of the Jones family in the mercantile business in Safford, preceded by his father and followed by his son. He also was involved most of his life in the cattle business. Married for 65 years to his late wife, Annie Lee Ellis Jones, he was also preceded in death by two brothers, John Edwin Jones, Jr. of Greensboro and Harry Donald Jones of Winston-Salem, NC; two sisters, Lillian Jones Simpson of Mobile and Jewell Jones Bailey of Safford, and a daughter-in-law, Kathy Morris Jones. Mr. Jones was a member of Safford Baptist Church from childhood, serving as a deacon, treasurer, and in other church capacities. Throughout his life he loved baseball, having played at Orrville High School and as a freshman at Auburn University, coached by the late Ralph "Shug" Jordan. He also played semi-professional baseball until his late thirties in various leagues throughout Central and Western Alabama. He is survived by two sons, Jimmy Jones of Birmingham and Lee Jones and his wife, Kay, of Selma; a daughter, Mrs. Joanne Jones Givhan and her husband, Edward, of Daphne; three grandsons, Dr. Bryan Givhan of Tuscaloosa, Lebo Jones of Safford and Jeff Jones of Selma; two granddaughters, Mrs. Janet Givhan Ellis and Mrs. Sheridan Jones Cahoon, both of Prattville and ten great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be Sunday, February 1, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Safford Baptist Church with Donald Harris officiating. Burial will be in New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma with Selma Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Memorial donations may be sent to Cedar Hill Assisted Living Specialty Care Unit, 1300 Old Orrville Road, Selma, AL or Safford Baptist Church, Safford, AL 36773. Pallbearers will be Edward Givhan, Bryan Givhan, Lebo Jones, Jeff Jones, Wes Cahoon, Mike Ellis, Bill Neighbors and Johnny Morris.