Beloved TPC member Jim Jones entered the Church Triumphant on March 12, 2024
James “Jim” Wyatt Jones, Jr. • March 17, 1945–March 12, 2024
To watch the Celebration of Life for Jim Jones, go here.
Though Jim Jones was a modest man who never sought the spotlight, he left a tremendous legacy that will live on through generations and touch lives around the world.
Jim loved God, his family, and music. He believed in doing the right thing because it was the right thing, not for recognition or reward. Material things mattered little to him—his mission was to live like Christ and show people what it means to be a Christian.
Born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, Jim graduated from Fayetteville High School. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from West Virginia University, he returned to his high school to teach alongside the people who taught him, sharing his love of music with the next generation. He would later move to Central Florida, where he continued teaching and eventually opened his own music store. Allegro Music Centre, Inc. has been a respected fixture in the Orlando area for 43 years.
Jim met his wife Karen at West Virginia University when she was a freshman and he was a junior. Their 55-year marriage was rich and full of love and beautiful music.
One of the highlights of Jim’s life were six trips to Europe with West Virginia University Alumni Band. Jim was able to play his trumpet all over Europe, including solos in 23 countries.
Jim was a lifelong Christian and sang in the church choir from the time he was in high school. After college, he became a church choir director and eventually added directing handbells and the orchestra to his resume. He and Karen joined Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church in 1995 and he has directed the choir there since 2013.
For Jim’s 70th birthday, his family filled a jar with slips of paper on which they wrote the words they felt described him: humble, kind, funny, brave, life-saving, patient, talented, charitable, generous, passionate, helpful, silly, caring, considerate, inspirational, enthusiastic, hard-working, loving, and more. In addition to those wonderful positive attributes, Jim had a special ability to tune out negativity, to put up a mental wall and simply not hear negative talk. In business, he was an optimist and was always resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks.
Music was both his profession and his hobby. One of his great joys was to teach others the love of music. In 2018, Jim was recognized by Spectrum News 13 as an Everyday Hero for forgiving the debt on a trumpet when the mother of a young student fell behind on the payments. It was a life-changing gesture for the young man, but the kind of thing Jim did all the time.
Jim was the only child of the late James “Hoot” Jones, Sr. and Jane Jones. He is survived by his wife Karen, daughter Lisa Jones Langston, son-in-law Josh Langston, and grandchildren Tommy and Elizabeth Langston.
The Jim Jones Memorial Fund has been established at Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church to fund special music and worship initiatives. To support the fund, make your donation payable to TPC marked for the Jim Jones Memorial Fund.
Before he died, Jim received a substantial amount of whole blood and platelets while the doctors worked to save him. The family asks that if you are able, please donate blood to One Blood.
A celebration of Jim’s life was held Friday, April 5, 4:00 p.m., Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church, 3600 Aloma Ave., Oviedo.