Funeral services for Jimmie Jones will be 11:00 a.m. Monday at Bethel AME Church, 323 West 11th Street Davenport with the Pastor Ronald R Chambers officiating.  Burial will be at the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal.  He departed this life on Sunday, July 22 at Genesis Medical Center East Campus.

Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until service time at the Church.

Orr’s Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jimmie was born September 5, 1924 in Oxford, MS the son of James and Myra Jones.  He married Eunice Smith on January 18, 1958 in Camden, NJ.  He was a member of Bethel AME Church, the Mississippi Valley Blues Society (MVBS) and the Jazz Institute of Chicago.  He received awards for being a stalwart supporter of the Arts from the AACM.

Jimmie Jones often said that jazz was as “American art… it was America’s folk music… America’s contribution to the world!”  His contribution to the world of jazz is evidenced by his dedication to the educational programs that the Blues Society put on for the local area schools.

Jimmie Jones was a war veteran who fought in WWII and the Korean War.

After his discharge from the Marine Corps, Jimmie worked for the government and travelled the world with his wife and step-son on assignments as an employee for the US Army.  Jimmie was a novice photographer at many major jazz and blues festivals around the Chicago area and in the Quad Cities.  Many of his photos capture the fiery love for the music he often called America’s true art form.  His photos have been published in Cadence Magazine, Downbeat and Oil Magazine.  Jimmie’s love of music and self-taught picture taking ability allowed him numerous opportunities to take candid photos of many famous musicians –both onstage and off-stage.  Many of the musicians came to expect photos in the mail from Jimmie every year.  He will be sorely missed.

Aside from being an ardent music aficionado, Jimmie Jones had a deep love for his family and loved reading the Guidepost and the Holy Bible.

He is survived by his wife, Eunice and step-son Chester Smith, Bettendorf, and a brother, William Jones, Boulder, CO.