Just a couple of weeks ago, Jana, Ben Jones’s daughter, sent me an email telling me she was having her dad moved from BayView Nursing Home to Jacksonville where he would be closer to the family.
I heard he rea lly didn’t like the idea, but he was 100 years old and his health had started to be in decline for a little while.
I know I have known him for many years and he would always say, “How are you doing pardner?”
Then he would shake my hand and that hand shake was something that I could never forget. It al-ways felt like he was going to break my hand with the power in it.
We had a very nice get together at the Circle K before he left for Jacksonville. Some of us, I think, thought then we may never see him again. We just didn't realize it would be this soon!
Ben was an icon in Brantley County. I’ve never heard a bad word spoken about him.
Several years ago, I was asked to take family pictures of the Jones family when Ben and Blanche were both still alive. Both have passed away now.
Ben will be missed in Brantley County by many people for sure.
• Wayne Morgan is freelance wildlife photographer and author.
