Obituary: Raeford “Tad Pole” Jones

Raeford “Tad Pole” Jones, 78, went to be with the Lord and Saviour on Sunday, September 17, 2023, surrounded by family at his home. Tad was born on August 4, 1945, and was the son of Garfield and Alice P. Jones.

Tad grew up in the Pleasant Hill community, where he worked with his father on the farm before going to work with the Weyerhaeuser Forestry Division. He also helped his daughter, Angie and her husband, Jerry, on their farm. Tad was a fix-it man and always willing to try any task. If he didn’t know how to solve the problem, he didn’t stop until he found a way.

He was a loving husband, daddy, and papa and was loved by everyone who knew him. Tad was a member of Pleasant Hill Christian Church. Pleasant Hill Christian Church held many fond memories of Tad and his family. After being a part of both his daughters’ weddings there, he and Janet tied the knot in 1997. Tad and Janet both accepted the Lord and were baptized there as well.

Tad loved spending time with his family immediate and extended. He also loved spending time with and caring for his fur babies. In addition to his parents, Tad was preceded in death by sisters, Edith Catherine Jones and Elizabeth Jones; brothers, Richard L. Jones and Barfield Jones.

His surviving family includes his wife of 26 years, Janet Jones; daughters, Angie Taylor and her husband, Jerry of Pink Hill; Tracey Beaman and her husband, Shay of Snow Hill; stepdaughters, Judi Norman and her husband, Karl Kaminski of Dover; and Jeanne Norman of Kinston; grandchildren, Lynsey C. Beaman (Austin Mozingo) of Snow Hill; Jonah P. Beaman (Meredith Carlyle) of Snow Hill; step-grandchildren, Amanda M. Taylor Pink Hill, Johnnie Smith IV of Kinston, Jameson Creech (Jacob Creech) of Farmville, Phillip Kaminski of Brooklyn, New York; step-great-grandchild, Nathan. His brothers Ray Jones (Barbara), and Jack Jones (Darnell) and sisters, Ercell Radford (Carlton), Betty Creel (Glenn), Bobbie Sanders (Merwin), sister-in-law, Kathy Jones, many nieces and nephews and special family friend, Lillian Pridgen.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 pm Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at Pleasant Hill Christian Church, Pink Hill, NC with funeral service at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow at Griffin Family Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pleasant Hill Christian Church in care of Pat Whaley, 364 Vine Swamp Road, Kinston, NC 28504