James Wesley Jones, Jr.

James (Jim/Junior) Wesley Jones, Jr. finished his earthly race with a perfect 0.00 reaction time and got the green light for heaven on December 11, 2022, after a hard-fought battle with an aggressive cancer.

Jim was born November 28, 1953, in Clay County, West Virginia. He grew up in a large family with 4 sisters and 4 brothers in Clay, West Virginia before the family relocated to Mansfield, Ohio. Jim spent his early years exploring the nearby junkyards. This began his life-long love for cars and all things mechanical. He could take things apart and reassemble them with his eyes closed. At an early age, he started tinkering on some of those old junkyard cars to see if he could get them running and when he had them running, he would try to make them faster and louder. In 1970, Jim joined the U.S. Marines. He completed his basic training at Camp Lejeune before being assigned to Camp Pendleton in California. While at Camp Pendleton, Jim met his wife, Debbie. He was then stationed at the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. While in Oahu, Jim joined the outrigging team and developed a love for the ocean and the beach. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Jim settled in Orange, California where he and Debbie raised four children. In the 1970s, Jim joined Myer’s forklift first as a mechanic and then as the shop foreman. He was employed at Myers through the early 1990s. When Jim and family relocated to Georgia in 1993, he joined Crown Lift Trucks as a mechanic and later as supervisor, where he was employed for 26 years until his retirement in 2019.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 32 years, Deborah (Debbie) Vossler Jones (2005) of Orange, Ca, his parents James Wesley Jones and Olive Rose Jones, his sister Janet Jones Bricker, and his brothers Michael Jones and Dale Jones all of Mansfield, OH.

Jim is survived by his wife of 14 years, Peggy Trotter Jones (2008) of Kennesaw, GA, his four children, Tisha (Frank) Campo of Acworth, GA, James (Brian) Jones of Holly Springs, GA, Randy Jones of Kennesaw, GA, Alisha (Aaron) Terry of Kennesaw, GA, and bonus children Kevin (Delfina) Trotter of Silver Creek, GA, Andrea Hulsey of Kennesaw, GA, Jennifer (Steve) Eubanks of Rome, GA, Justin (Amber) Trotter of Rome, GA, grandchildren Moesha, Robert, Lea, and Oliver Campo, Aubrey and Izzy Jones, Lucas, Isaac, Abby, Maddy, John, Eliza, and Jovie Terry, Gavin and Corbin Trotter, Morgan and Avery Hulsey, Piper Benefield, Cooper Roberts, Christopher, Lee and Ridge Eubanks, Jaylee and Josie Trotter, his siblings Patty Winters of Poca, WV, Emma Fields, David Jones, and Gary Jones all of Mansfield, OH, Brenda Jones of Columbus, OH, and several great grandchildren and many uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews.

Jim touched the lives of many people, from the west coast to the east coast. He never knew a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Not only was he always ready to offer a helping hand, but he opened his heart and his home to several special needs foster children over the years. Jim also opened his home to international students, and he always enjoyed his time with them. He was a master at diagnosing challenging issues and was able to work on anything - wiring, motors, chassis, suspension, and transmissions - he could do it all. He could bench race with the best of them, and he could drag race with the best of them as well. Jim cherished the time he spent at the dragstrip with family and friends, especially his grandkids. The smell of a fresh burnout and alcohol fuel always brought a smile to his face. You could always find the house he raised his children in because it would be the one with multiple fresh burnouts on the road. Of course, it was only done to get the tires hot and sticky; and not because he loved the sounds and sights of a burnout. He was always a resource for other racers as well. Jim loved sharing his knowledge with all he met and that was how many strangers became lifelong friends. His garage had every imaginable tool that you could want. He enjoyed going to events in his ‘55 Chevy with the Dixie Classic Chevy Club. He was also member of the unofficial “No Front Bumper” club. His favorite drag cars were the Anglin and Gassers from the 60’s and 70’s but he also owned, loved, and raced many Novas, Chevelles, Corvettes, Camaros and too many ’55 Chevys to count and a handful of Nomads. If he wasn’t in the garage, you could find him at the track or the swap meet. His favorite California tracks were Lions/Long Beach, Riverside International, Carlsbad Raceway, Bakersfield, Pomona, Ontario, Orange County International and his favorite Georgia tracks were Commerce, Paradise, and Brainerd. He also enjoyed racing at Steele, Alabama, and the Carolina Dragway.

He will be interred at the Georgia National Cemetery at 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr, Canton, GA 30114 on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 1:00 p.m is when you need to arrive for procession at the visitors center then from there to graveside service at 1:30 p.m. After the service they will be a memorial reception at 189 Fieldbrook Crossing, Canton, GA 30115.  The family would like friends and family to post their favorite memories of Jim Jones below. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider donating to Wreaths Across America to provide wreaths for veterans (https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/) or to the American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/).