James Bryant Jones, 63

He was first diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma on Sept. 11, 2001. He was told he might have six months to live, but over six years later God was still using his precious servant to minister to others. Even in his last weeks, he was ministering to those close to him and in his last moments Jim was a testament to the love, compassion, grace and mercy of God.

He was born on May 19, 1944 in Woodbury. He grew up in Detroit, Mich., with his father, J.B., mother, Alta Mae, and younger brother, Barry. In April of 1963 he met Judy at Temple Baptist Church in Detroit. On Sept. 11, 1964, Jim and Judy were joined together in marriage. Jim and Judy had four children, Julie, Jeanne, Jennifer and James. They instructed their children in the word of God from an early age and never stopped praying for their salvation. But the thing that left the biggest imprint on their children’s hearts was the way they lived their lives. By God’s grace it was their example of unwavering love toward one another and for the Lord that God used to bring their children to faith in Jesus.

He is survived by his mother, Alta Mae (Daniel) Maxwell; brother, Dr. Barry and Linda Jones, wife, Judy Jones; four children and their spouses: Julie and Michael Lee, Jeanne and Mike Grueber, Jennifer and Charles Eland, and James and Connie Jones, and his five grandchildren, Austin Grueber, Samantha Grueber, Gwyneth Lee, Landon Jones and Carter Jones. He was the nephew of Robert and Dean Daniel of Woodbury; B.F. and Mary Helen Daniel of McMinnville; Patricia (Daniel) Medley of Lewisburg, and Harold and Shirley (Daniel) Whittaker of Franklin. He was the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. James B. Daniel of Woodbury.