NATCHEZ — Services for Jesse Byrne Jones, 28, who died suddenly Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at Merit Health Hospital Natchez, will be at 11 a.m., Monday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David O’Connor officiating. Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Mr. Jones was born May 18, 1988, the son of Christopher G. Jones and Celeste Byrne Jones at Ft. Polk, La where his father was stationed.

He later moved to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M., then back to Vidalia and Natchez. Early in life, he showed an interest in Natchez history by winning a spot on Nick News on Nickelodeon’s “My Back Yard” segment. He enjoyed Pilgrimage time by helping his mother receive tourists at the House on Ellicott Hill and being in the Historic Natchez Pageant as the Indian. Other activities he enjoyed included volunteering for the Red Cross, playing catcher in youth baseball, singing as altar boy at Assumption Catholic Church and Sunday school vacation Bible school at First Baptist Church.

He attended Vidalia Lower Elementary, Cathedral, and Natchez High School. He was a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg where he enjoyed school-sponsored trips to Mexico and Europe.

He was a recent graduate of the Mississippi State Fire Academy, Class 161 on April 7, 2016, in Jackson.

Mr. Jones was preceded in death by grandparents, Edward J. “Bubber” Byrne Jr. of Natchez and Grover and Flora Jones of Albuquerque.

Survivors include his mother, Celeste Byrne of Natchez; his father, Christopher Jones of Lebanon, Tenn.; and his grandmother Nan Byrne of Natchez.

Pallbearers will be members of the Gautier Fire Department.

Memorials may be made to Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Mississippi State Fire Academy.

Online condolences may be sent at lairdfh.com