Richard “Rick” Jones passed from this life into the arms of our Heavenly Father on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at the age of 64. At the end of a long stretch of hospital stays, he was able to visit with many friends and family members before passing peacefully with loved ones by his side.
Rick, the youngest in his family, was preceded in death by his parents Hubert and Margery Jones of Fayetteville, and his eldest sister Linda Parham of Greenville. He is survived by his sister Peggy Hoyle of Winston-Salem, his brother Tom Jones of Boiling Springs, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Rick spent his earliest years in Raleigh before making his home in Fayetteville for most of his life. He graduated from Pine Forest High School in 1977 and later from Methodist College, now Methodist University, in 1981 with a B.S. in Biology. Though life brought Rick a continuous series of challenges and hurdles, he persisted through his faith and his desire to care for others. He loved his close friends as family and made family gatherings his top priority. Rick enjoyed visiting the beach, watching waves, and befriending stray animals – even the wild ones.
Always exploring small entrepreneurial ideas, Rick made his first cash by charging his childhood friends 5¢ each to meet Tom Jones (his brother, not the famous singer, to the disappointment of his customers). When Rick began managing a disability later in life, he turned his efforts to helping people in his community meet their daily needs. In his small business Fetch, Carry, & Feed, Rick worked to serve those who didn’t have access to reliable transportation. He joked that he could have been the first Uber, but his work was focused more on using his time and car to support others, not on profits.
A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, January 27, 2023, at Northwood Temple Church. Burial to follow the service at Raleigh Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Northwood Temple for the expansion of the Education Department or to an organization that aids the homeless and unhoused community near you.
