Obituary - Timothy Ray Pike “Timmy”

Timothy Ray Pike “Timmy” passed away very unexpectedly on Friday December 9, 2022.

Timmy was one of the most genuine, loving, giving and caring people you will ever meet. He loved completely, gave unselfishly and cared for everyone.

Timmy grew up in Jones County and attended Jones County Public Schools. Upon graduation with the Jones Senior Class of 1977, he began his career in heavy equipment mechanics. A career that stemmed from the knowledge gained in his father’s shop, Pikes Repair Shop and Towing.

In March 1979 he married his high school sweetheart, Belinda Griffin Pike. Together they had 2 daughters, Jessica and Bethany. In 1986 he became Fire Chief at Hargett’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Gardner who was Fire Chief from the inception of the department. In August 2003, he decided to trade in the mechanics tools for a different set of tools. He had been volunteering in EMS and wanted to do more. He began working with Jones County Emergency Services and was the Fire Marshal for Jones County. When he started, they had basic-level responders and a QRV. They went on to become Intermediate level providers and got an ambulance and responded 24/7.

In 2010 with the birth of his first grandchild, Corbin, he gained a title that he loved and cherished, Poppy. In 2012 he lost his beloved wife and in 2013 gave up his role as Fire Chief. Upon the retirement of Carol Tyndall in 2013, he became the Jones County EMS Director. He had goals for “his county”. Being one of only 5 counties in NC that was not at Paramedic level, he had a goal to achieve that status.

In 2015 he married longtime friend, Ann Brinson Pike and with her encouragement and support he joined “his crew” in a Paramedic class. Before enrolling he asked, “Do you know how old I will be when I finish this class?” and she responded, “Do you know how old will you be if you don’t?” He finished at the top of his class. In July 2016 his goal and dream to become a Paramedic level squad was achieved. But his goals didn’t stop there. He wanted two, 24/7 ambulances on the road.

In 2019 he was promoted to Emergency Manager for Jones County. In 2020, in part thanks to COVID, his dream of having two ambulances 24/7 became a reality. Being an overachiever, he wanted more. He wanted more timely access to the residents of the county. He started trying to figure out how to get two substations built. While he won’t be here on earth to witness it, he was happy to know that land was purchased and money was available to build two substations and remodel the EOC. He will have the best seat in the house to oversee the construction.

He and Ann loved to travel, DC, cruises “just to get away” (because she knew that is the only time he would turn his radio off) and most recently they had returned from Hawaii on December 8. His dream was to see the Northern Lights and a trip to Alaska was planned for 2023 and Norway in 2024. He was one of a kind. A genuinely nice person and would do anything to help anyone, even if it meant he went without. He lived his life to serve others. He didn’t talk the talk; he walked the walk. “Always leave things better than you found them” was something he always said and tried to live.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Gardner and Carole Ervin Pike, sister, Linda Pike Simpson, his first wife and mother of his children, Belinda Griffin Pike

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ann Brinson Pike, daughters Jessica Weaver and husband Johnny, Bethany Richards and husband Alex, stepsons Randall Jones and wife Shannon, and Nick Jones and wife Jordan. Grandchildren Corbin Pike, Isaiah and Madilyn Richards, Ian, Kaden and Finn Weaver, Taylor, Carter and Finley Jones. Sister, Lorre Metts and husband Marcus, brothers Wayne Pike and wife Shirley, Scotty Pike and wife Tammy and brother-in-law Eric Simpson. Sisters and brothers Teresa McNally and husband Tommy, Terry Gallegos, Lisa Griffin, Josh Griffin and Allen Griffin and wife Loretta. Father and mother-in-law LH and Jean Brinson and his best friends Roy (Bubba) and Lucille Sanderson. He leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends and of course his work family.

We are better people for knowing him and loving him and having his love in return.

Visitation will be from 11-1 with services immediately following on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at Jones County Civic Center in Trenton and entombment will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Pink Hill.

The family asks for your continued prayers as we begin to navigate through the rest of our lives without our “rock, anchor” and friend.

“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Ronald Reagan coined this phrase and Timmy Pike adopted it.