Billy Ray “Mule” Jones Sr. May 15, 1940 – January 31, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| View Guest Book Entries| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Billy Ray “Mule” Jones, Sr., of Summit, MS, passed away on January 31, 2019 at St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson, MS. A longtime resident of Pike County, Billy Ray lived most of his life in Summit. He was 78 years old.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Hartman-Jones Funeral Home of McComb, located on Delaware Ave. A Celebration of Life service will immediately follow the visitation from 1 pm to 2 pm in the Chapel at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home. Mule was born on May 15, 1940, to David Dean Jones, Sr and Mrs. Corrine Parker Jones of Summit.
He grew up in Summit, MS and graduated from Summit High School in 1957. Billy Ray was a standout athlete in both football and baseball at Summit High where he earned All-State honors. He went on to sign scholarships to play both football and baseball at Ole Miss.
While there, he was a contributor to two of the most successful sports eras in Ole Miss History. As a member of the Ole Miss Football team from 1959 to 1961, he contributed as a guard and center on the offensive line and as a linebacker on defense. Billy Ray received All-SEC (3rd Team) recognition by AP and UPI in 1961, and was selected as co-captain of the 1961 team.
In addition, he was selected to the All-SEC Academic Team in 1961. The teams Billy Ray played on won two Sugar Bowls in 1959 and 1960, and lost a close game in the 1962 Cotton Bowl Classic. The 1959 and 1960 football teams both claimed national championships.
The 1961 team had one of the most prolific offenses in Rebel history, averaging 418. 7 yards per game, and the 1959 team had the most prolific defense in Rebel history by allowing only 2. 1 points per game.
Billy Ray was selected as the SEC defensive player of the week in Ole Miss’ 1961 win over Tennessee. He declined an offer to play for Houston in the American Football League to sign a contract to play professional baseball. As a baseball player at Ole Miss, Mule was an integral part of the first-ever SEC Championship won by an Ole Miss Baseball team in 1959.
In 1960, Ole Miss won the SEC Championship for the second straight year claiming back-to-back SEC crowns. This feat has never been repeated at Ole Miss. Known for his hitting prowess, he still lands number 6 all time in consecutive games with a hit (16 straight games) despite playing many fewer games than those Rebels that would come after him.
He also held the Ole Miss homerun single season record for many years. In addition, the 1960 team also managed a 17 game winning streak in route to capturing the SEC. Due to his success for Ole Miss, Billy Ray signed a professional contract for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1962.
Due to an injury to his ankle in his senior football campaign, Billy Ray came home after 4 years of playing in the AAA Dodgers organization. Mule enjoyed a successful coaching career before going into the business world. By 1970, he was recognized by Lincoln National Life Insurance Company as the company’s top sales representative in the south.
He was a loving husband, father, grand-father, and friend. Billy Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, David Dean Jones, Jr and Ronald Dale Jones, both of Summit, and his beloved daughter, Robin Rebecca Jones Hutchison of Madison, MS. He is survived by his wife, Diana King Jones; three children and two step-children, Molly Jones Siria and husband Darren of Conway, AR, Candi Jones Watson and husband Andrew of Moselle, MS, Billy Ray Jones, Jr and wife Suzanne of Waynesboro, MS, Eric Marshall Gunnell of Taiwan, and Bryon Gunnell and wife Whitney of Summit, MS.
; one brother, Ted Williams and wife Gloria of Baton Rouge, LA; and thirteen grandchildren: Brennan Barkley, Brittany Barkley, Mollie Kate Barkley, Blade Craft, Caroline Jones; Billy Ray “Trey” Jones, III, Eric Watson, Drew Watson, Jimmy Hutchison, Anna Catherine Hutchison, Colton Comans, Connor “Rooster” Gunnell and Paizley “Amazing” Grace Gunnell; and numerous nieces nephews, and friends. Honorary pallbearers are present and past members of the Lazy Creek Hunting Club and all former players he coached. SERVICES Memorial Service Saturday, February 09, 2019 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Hartman-Jones Funeral Home 1801 Delaware Ave.
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