Sept. 2, 1967 – March 1, 2014

VIDALIA — Services for Walter Rae Jones Sr., 46, of Vidalia, who died Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Promise Specialty Hospital, will be at noon Saturday at Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Vidalia with the Rev. Raymond Riley Sr. officiating.

Burial will follow in Vidalia City Cemetery under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 4 to 5:45 p.m. today at the funeral home with a “Celebration of Life” Wake Service at 6 p.m. and from 11 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mr. Jones was born Sept. 2, 1967, in Baton Rouge, the son of Joseph Greene and Rebecca Jones.

He graduated from Vidalia High School in 1986 and attended Grambling State University. He was employed be the City of Vidalia until his death.

He was baptized at an early age. Mr. Jones was a faithful member of the Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church until his death.

He was also a member of Tri-Stone Lodge No. 137, where he served as Junior Warden. He was also a 32 degree Mason of Abraham “Consistory” of Boyce, La.

He was an avid San Francisco 49ers fan as well as a die-hard Grambling State University Tiger fan. During his spare time, he enjoyed playing flag football, where his teammates knew his as “Jiggy.”

Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Isabella Washington Bernard.

Survivors include his loving wife of 25 years, Velisha L. Barksdale Jones; one son, Walter Jones Jr., of Grambling; two daughters, Maudrella and Marquitta Jones, of Grambling; one goddaughter, Mariah White, of Fort Worth, Texas; three brothers, Clarence Jones Jr. and Joseph Jones Sr., both of Natchez, and Kyle Jones, of Baton Rouge; two sisters, Mary Jackson and Barbara Anne Jones, both of Natchez; three sisters-in-law, Vanessa Barksdale, of Vidalia, Versie Okonji, of Fort Worth, and Vickie Smith, of Ferriday; and a number of other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be sent to westgatefh.com.