Bernard "Bernie" Sherrill Jones

Bernard Sherrill Jones, Pa Bernie to his grandchildren and many others in the community, died peacefully on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, at SECU Hospice House in Smithfield.

Bernie was born December 9, 1940, at the family homeplace in Clinton, NC to James Whitfield Jones and Grace Lucy Phillips Jones. He was a lifelong member of Hopewell Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and was church treasurer for many years. He enjoyed many church activities from playing on the church softball team to building birdhouses with children at Vacation Bible School. When he was president of United Methodist Men, he greatly enjoyed planning the Valentine's Ladies' Night each year to honor the women in the church. 

He was a charter member of Vann Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, which began with the first meeting on December 9, 1970. He served many roles including treasurer, assistant chief, and chief, and enjoyed mentoring younger firefighters. After he was no longer able to actively fight fires, he served as chairperson of the Firefighters Benevolent Fund for Sampson County Fire Association. One of his joys was organizing fundraisers for his church and fire department. He served four years in the US Air Force, and for thirty-one years owned and operated a tool franchise business, first with Snap-On Tools, then Mac Tools, and finally Matco Tools.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Phyllis White Jones; three children: Karen Tyler and husband Jeff, Kimberly Kemp and husband Ramey, and Jamey Jones and wife Natalie; eight grandchildren: Megan Harper and husband TJ, Ashley Agner and husband Daniel, Reid Tyler and wife Michaela, Madison Marley and husband Kendall, Ray Kemp and fiancee Ashlyn Quinn, Kevin Kemp, Kaylee Jones and friend Pryce Hovey, and Emily Kemp; and eight great-grandchildren: Gentry Westbrook, Mattie Jo Harper, Charlotte Rico, Annie Westbrook, Joshua Harper, Jensen Agner, Boone Agner, and Charlie Tyler; his sister Geraldine “Jerri” Campbell; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bernie was preceded in death by siblings: infant Florence Jones, James Ed Jones, Willie Marjorie Wilkerson, Joel Jones, Frank Jones, Wilburn Jones, and Donald Jones; and grandson-in-law Brandon Westbrook.

Bernie enjoyed making people laugh. His philosophy of life was, “If I can’t laugh, why am I living?” He wanted everyone to be happy. In his later years, he and Phyllis enjoyed giving small crosses to people who needed the comfort of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vann Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, Hopewell Methodist Church, or Pa Bernie’s Cross Ministry (contact Jamey & Natalie Jones).

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 2, 6-8 pm at West and Dunn Funeral Home in Newton Grove and other times at the home of Jeff and Karen Tyler. His Celebration of Life service will be held at Hopewell Methodist Church at 11 am on Wednesday, April 3. The Reverends Timothy Seigh, Adam Brinkley, and Richard Vaughan will be officiating.

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