Obituary of Billy Ray "Dood" Jones

Funeral services for Billy Ray “Dood” Jones, Sr., age 81, of Columbia, will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at Bethany Baptist Church in Hebert with Bro. Brian Rankin officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at the church. Services are under the direction of Riser Funeral Home of Columbia.

Billy Ray was born May 11, 1936 to the union of Huey “Duck” Jones and Gladys Thornhill Jones in Fort Necessity and he passed from this life on August 13, 2017 at his residence.

He served his country in the Army. He was an alligator farmer. He retired from the state as a surveyor and he was a retired truck driver. He loved and cherished his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all children. He was preceded in death by his wife: Rose Mercer Jones; his parents; sisters: Joy Gaspard, Dolly Ann Jones, Diane Cartwright, and Joyce Evans; brother: Jack Jones.

He is survived by his son: Billy Jones, Jr. and his wife Janice; grandchildren: Nikki Stephens and her husband Mel, Cindi Jones, Daniel Jones and Staci Danna; great-grandchildren: Joshua Stephens, James Stephens and his wife Bekah, Leah Smith and her husband Hudson, Drake Grier and fiance Emily Rugg, Jonathan Stephens, Phillip Stephens, Elin Jones, Sophia Lewis, Avery Leffel, Dakota Leffel, Easton Ray Jones; great-grandchildren: Hannah Stephens and Miriam Stephens;  borrowed grandbabies: Jared Strickland, Maddox Schulte, Houston Mott, Luke Clark, Cullen Bailes, Bryson Bailes, and Benton Washam.

Pallbearers will be: Dale Evans, Keith Evans, Matt Evans, Anthony Evans, Joel Strickland, and Jacob Bailes.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Deacons of Bethany Baptist Church and Mercer nephews.