Walter Robert Jones Jr., M.D., passed into the arms of his Savior on Oct. 19, 2018.
Walter was born in Greenwood on July 21, 1941, to Walter R. Jones and Dorothy Riddell Jones. He was raised in Inverness, where he began his lifelong love affair with the Delta land and its people. Walter graduated from Inverness High School in 1959 and attended Ole Miss where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Following undergraduate school, he acquired his M.D. degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, graduating at the top of his class. Walter completed a surgery residency at UMC under Dr. James D. Hardy and a surgical fellowship at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. Upon conclusion of his surgical training, he entered the United States Army Medical Corps with the rank of Major, serving as a surgeon with the 67th Evac Hospital in Qui Nhon, Vietnam. After completing his military service at Fort Carson, Colo., Walter and his young family settled briefly in Hattiesburg, followed by a return to Jackson where he and his longtime partner Dr. Richard Yelverton founded Lakeland Surgical Clinic. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and Fellow of the American College of Surgery.
Walter was a physician in the truest sense of the word. Apart from his technical skills as a surgeon and diagnostician, he was beloved by his patients for his deep sense of empathy for them and their families. Following retirement from his surgical practice in 2004, Walter served as a physician at the Hudspeth Regional Center, providing compassionate care for severely disadvantaged patients.
Outside of his professional engagements, Walter loved the outdoors. In younger days he enjoyed scuba diving, whitewater canoeing and rock climbing. He was an avid, if not always successful, hunter of wild turkey. Walter was a confirmed bibliophile, as evidenced by the mounds of books crammed into every nook and cranny of office and home. He was a faithful patron of Lemuria Books, where he would often browse and discuss new discoveries with John and the staff. Walter also loved music; he could often be found at Hal & Mal’s or the Cherokee listening to The Vernon Brothers, The D’lo Trio and other favorite local musicians.
Walter was a member of Wells United Methodist Church in Jackson where he was profoundly shaped by the ministry of the late Rev. Keith Tonkel. He deeply loved his Wells family, many of whom ministered to him as his health declined.
Walter is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Kathy; sister Dorothy Duncan Walcott (Dexter) of Greenwood, and brother Dr. Christopher Riddell Jones of Birmingham, Ala.; sons Walter Robert Jones, III (Alese) of Flowood, Christopher Andrew Jones (Leslie) of Columbus, Ohio, Rev. William Jeremy Jones (Maylon) of Memphis and Clay Metcalf Jones of Oxford; stepson John Michael Saucier of Flowood, stepdaughters Sara Saucier Revell (Josh) of Flowood, Keith Smythe Meacham (Jon) of Nashville and May Smythe of Nashville; and grandchildren Caroline Alese Jones, Robert Duncan Jones, Isaac Walker Jones, Lucy Hollis Jones, Nathan Jackson Jones, Irene Fairley Jones, Ellis Andrew Lockett Jones, John Noah Saucier, Ava Grace Revell and John Brice Revell.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the physicians, nurses and staff at Hospice Ministries of Ridgeland who provided compassionate care to Walter in his final days.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, for the establishment of the Walter R. Jones, Jr., M.D. School of Medicine Need Based Award.
Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 26, at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Jackson from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and at 12 noon on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Wells United Methodist Church in Jackson, followed by a service at 1 p.m. There will be a graveside service on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m. at Hickory Grove Cemetery, Inverness.
Sebrell Funeral Home of Ridgeland is entrusted with arrangements.
