Vernon Lee Jones (Meanie), of Jackson, NC, passed away the evening of February 2, 2026. He was 77 years of age.

Vernon was born on February 10, 1948 in their family home outside of Jackson, NC. After he and his brothers had a new house built on Firetower Road, his birthplace became affectionately known as “The Old Place”. Even though the house is no longer there, friends and family know where it stood just from the name. As a child, his grandmother gave him the nickname “Meanie”.

Meanie and his brothers, Raymond and David farmed for years. The farm grew peanuts, cotton, soybeans, corn, and wheat. In the mid-1980s, the brothers split and Meanie began a bulldozer service doing reforestation work. Over the years, that evolved into him owning different equipment and doing a lot of road building and grading. He is also a retired volunteer firemen for the town of Jackson.

Meanie is survived by his daughter, Ginger B. Riley and husband, John and children, Anna and Jack of Durham, NC; his son, Coy Bell, III of Jackson and his wife, Tracy and children, Tyler and Garrett; his sister, Betty Lonchar of Jackson and her sons, Michael and Mark; and his brother, David and his wife, Pat of Jackson and their daughters, Stephanie and Jenny. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 45 years, Eleanor W. Jones of Jackson; parents, James V. Jones and Nannie P. Jones; sister, Peggy Jones; and brothers, James (Frog) Jones and wife, Hazel Jones, Raymond Jones, and brother-in law Charles Lonchar, all of Jackson

His service will be held at Jackson United Methodist Church in Jackson where he was a lifelong member on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 10:00 AM.