Cecil Eugene Jones, 47 years young, of Mathews, Virginia, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. He was a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church, Mathews County Little League, Water View Hunt Club, MERT Team and Dive Team Rescue. He was a former member of James City Fire Department, James City Fire and Marine Rescue, Mathews Volunteer Fire Department and Mathews Rescue Squad. He graduated in the class of 1990 from Mathews High School.
After graduating high school, Eugene, better known as “Jonesy” by most and “Bubba” by others, left Mathews and headed to Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated there from Ohio Diesel Tech School and returned home to work at Enterprise Ford Tractor in Grafton, Virginia. During this time, he volunteered for the Mathews Rescue Squad and was also a volunteer firefighter for MVFD, serving as a lieutenant and then as captain. While serving his community in this way, he decided that being a professional firefighter was his calling.

His love of the outdoors was ever present right up to his passing. He loved fishing, hunting, car racing, coaching and serving as umpire. While being a firefighter, he also was an owner of H&R Construction along with his buddy, Joe Robins, and he found pleasure in all of his work. He loved all that God called him to do, always smiling, laughing and enjoying life. Eugene’s love for his children was unending. He will be greatly missed as an important piece of our family puzzle. Rest in peace, Bubba.

Eugene was preceded in death by his father, W. Gerald Jones; uncles, Gordon M. Jones and Eugene W. Love; cousin, Robert G. “Bobby” Jones; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sands G. Jones and Mrs. Alberta N. Love and also his brother-in-law, David L. Hernandez.

He is survived by his daughter, Lauren E. Jones; son, Justin W. Jones; mother, Jo Ann Jones; sister, Linda J. Hernandez; niece, Vallin H. Jenkins; aunt, Charlotte E. Jones; cousins, Sands G. Jones II (Christine), Karen J. Barrick (Tim), Patricia J. White (Gerry), Judy J. Zanette (Shawn) and Mike, Mark, Tim, Rick, Teresa, Karen and Beth Love of Erlanger, Kentucky.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, at the Piankatank Ruritan Club, Hudgins, Virginia. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MVFD, P.O. Box 1130, Mathews, Va. 23109 or MVRS, 94 Cricket Hill Road, Hudgins, Va. 23076.

Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews, is assisting the family. Please be advised that current state-mandated guidelines will apply to all in attendance, including social distancing and appropriate face coverings. We sincerely appreciate your understanding.