Steve Jones

Henry Stevenson Jones, Jr., passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2026 at his home in Garden City surrounded by his family and his pastor, Rev. Daren L. Russell. He was 84 years of age..

Steve was born on Thursday February 26, 1942, in Abbeville, SC. He was the third child and first son born to Doris Davis and Henry S Jones, Sr. At the age of 6 months his family moved to Savannah. He was educated in Chatham County having been in the very first 7th grade promoting from Sprague Elementary School. He attended Chatham Junior High School and was in the first graduating class of Robert W. Groves High School in 1959. While in High School, Steve excelled in ROTC. He was highly decorated as a cadet and won many marksman awards including the Chatham Artillery Medal representing the best marksman in all of the high schools in Chatham County. This distinction earned him a scholarship.

Upon graduation from high school, he was accepted to Armstrong State College. He had his sights set on becoming a United States Marine. Though he was only 17 years, and had to have his parents’ permission, he headed to Paris Island for Boot Camp. Before Boot Camp was complete, he was offered the opportunity to go directly to Pensacola, Florida to train as a jet fighter pilot. He wanted to return to his education in Savannah and therefore politely turned down the offer.

After his Boot Camp at Paris Island, he went to Camp LeJeune and Camp Geiger. He then completed the next ten years in the Marine Corp reserves. He left the Marines at the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Steve was a self-taught musician playing both the piano and guitar. He formed several bands as a young adult and played many gigs for the Garden City Jaycees and Armstrong College events.

He began his career at Georgia Pacific, starting at the bottom of the workforce. During his twenty years, he rose through the many jobs and ranks and became the Division Controller for three divisions – Savannah Division, Aztec Trading Division, and Georgia Steamship Division. Georgia Pacific decided to move their corporate office from Portland, Oregon to Atlanta, Georgia. At that time, the Division office in Savannah was moving to Atlanta. Steve decided to retire rather than uproot his family. He invested his retirement in orange groves in Wauchula, Florida and remained in the business for the next 30 years. After getting his orange groves up and running, Steve returned to other employment at Union Camp Corporation in Savannah. He remained through the transition to International Paper and retired in 1997. After retiring, again, he went back to work as a contractor at International Paper. After retiring yet again he worked for Thomas C. Strickland and Sons Funeral Directors.

Steve was highly active in many civic clubs including serving as a Director of Garden City Jaycees. President of International Management Club, and President of the Mid-South Roundtable. He was the President of the Georgia Pacific Credit Union and President of the Federal Credit Unions in the southeast including Fort Stewart Credit Union and Union Camp Credit Union. He was chosen as Man of the Year in acknowledging his civic contributions to Garden City.

Steve’s hobby included playing chess, playing hearts and shooting pool. He also enjoyed a good game of golf and fishing every chance he could.

Steve attended Jasper Springs Baptist Church and served as a co-director of the Day Care Board. Later he became a member of Chapel-in-the-Gardens Presbyterian Church. He has served as Chairman of the Deacons. He became a Ruling Elder on the Session and has been the Clerk of Session for many years.

Steve was pre-deceased by his parents Henry Jones, Sr., and Doris Davis Morgan; his step-mother Lois Altman Jones; his sister Linda Morgan; his brother Jerry Morgan; his parents in law Evelyn Blackburn Cook and John M. Cook; and the mother of his son Sandra Jones-Thornton.

He is survived by his son Steven L. Jones; his sisters Frances McKeever of Gray, GA and Elaine Abbott of Wauchula, FL; his brother Bruce Morgan, of Edgefield, SC.

He is also survived by his wife of 28 years, Linda Blackburn Jones; his step-children Jessica Greene and Jonathan Greene; his grandchildren Natalie Candice Greene, Jaylin Grace Berry, Knox Nathan Greene, Jacob Carlton Lewis, Pearl Evelyn Greene; daughter-in-law Tina Kuharik Jones. He also has many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The visitation will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026 at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Services will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Chapel-in-the-Gardens Presbyterian Church at 93 Main Street, Garden City, Georgia at 12 noon. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia.  Rev. Daren L. Russell will officiate.  The active pallbearers will be Fred Blackburn, Jr., brother-in-law, Walter Hartley, Robbie Hyder, Richard O'Neal, Ken Schernekau, Jr., brother-in-law, and Peyton Zeagler.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Chapel-in-the-Gardens Presbyterian Church, PCA. 93 Main Street, Garden City, Georgia 31408.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes - WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL - 901 West Highway 80 - Pooler, Georgia (912) 748-2444