The tributes have poured in for the longtime Liberty County tax commissioner.
Virgil Jones, 60, died February 26 after a long illness. The Midway native had been tax commissioner for nearly 20 years.
Liberty County Commission Chairman Donald Lovette said Jones was the epitome of a servant leader.
“He was so well respected and loved by all who knew him,” Lovette said. “It was an honor and privilege to share the stage of public service with him. He is a true personal and professional representation of ‘Liberty County Proud.’” Many other officials posted their messages on the Dorchester Funeral Home website in honor of Jones.
“My deepest condolences to the entire Jones family and all of his loved ones,” Rene Ryon Harwell wrote. “Virgil was the most soft spoken, kind and honorable man I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for a very long time. He will truly be missed in our community.” “Virgil was the humblest person that I have met. He will be missed beyond measure,” added Vicky Nelson. Jones was the 10th child of the late Maxie R. Jones Jr. and Margaret Baker Jones and born in Freedman Grove. He graduated from Bradwell Institute in 1982 and attended Morris Brown College and Georgia State University.
He was first elected to tax commissioner in November 2004 and sworn in in 2005.
“As a member of your staff, it was a pleasure and honor to work for you,” posted Erin Houston. “You always had time to talk, no matter how busy you were. And you never turned down talking about the Atlanta Braves. I learned so much from you.”
County commissioners paid tribute to Virgil Jones, and offered their comfort and condolences to his brother, District 4 Commissioner Maxie Jones, at Tuesday’s meeting.
“What a great man heaven has gained,” Commissioner Marion Stevens Sr. said.
Commissioner Eddie Walden read the definition of a gentleman as someone who is a chivalrous, courteous or honorable man.
“That is probably the definition I’ll remember of Virgil,” Walden said. “He was a gentleman — all of the time. I appreciate what he did for the county.”
“I wish we could contact the Webster’s Dictionary and have the definition of gentleman changed to ‘like Virgil,’” added Commissioner Gary Gilliard. “He was the humblest person I ever met. I never met anyone as mild-mannered. He meant a lot to this community. I’m going to miss that friendship and that calm spirit he had.”
Commissioner Justin Frasier said that if Morgan Freeman can be thought of as what God’s voice sounds like, Virgil Jones would be the second choice.
“We’ve always been a strong, spiritual, religious, tight-knit family. Virgil prepared us for that moment but it didn’t make it any easier,” Maxie Jones said. “Knowing that people cared for my brother helps to make the pain a lot more bearable. Our family appreciates it.”
Funeral services for Jones were held Saturday, March 2, at the Sam Harris Gym. Interment followed at St. James AME Church on Freedman Grove Road.
Survivors include his wife, Felicia Evette Jemison-Jones, son, Virgil Marcus Jones II, and daughter, Lyndsay Maria Jones; sister, Karen Jones Jemison; brothers, Maxie and Dianne Jones IV and Neal and Sailor Jones of Freedman Grove; mother- in-law, Rose Baker, and father-in-law, William F. Staples; along with brothers- in-law, sisters-in-laws, and nieces, nephews and cousins.