On Tuesday, November 2, 1955 the sun rose and Thomas Wayne Jones, son of the late Thomas E. and Annie Faye Jones, was born. While at Duke Hospital on Tuesday, May 30, 2019, the sun set for Wayne as God called him to his eternal home after his family and loved ones surrounded him and tearfully communicated their love to him.
At a very early age, Wayne (as he was affectionately called), joined the former First Baptist Church in Creedmoor, NC where his father was a deacon. During his adult life, he moved his membership but finally found a home with Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, Creedmoor.
Wayne attended Durham Public Schools, graduating from Hillside High School. During the school year, he loved sports and played football and tennis. He was also a member of the band and played the drums and saxophone. After high school graduation, he attended Durham Technical Community College and North Carolina Central University, receiving a degree from each institution. If the UNC Tarheels were playing basketball, Wayne was definitely going to watch…it didn’t matter the year or the player, he was a devoted Tarheel fan.
Wayne had a quiet, gentle spirit. He was a logical man and if asked a question or for his opinion, he would give it thought before answering. He enjoyed being around his family and friends and looked forward to holidays or special gatherings. He loved to read and if prompted about his reading, he would let you know that he held the record for reading the most books during the summer in a Durham County Library Branch.
Wayne would glow with pride and smile a happy smile when he talked about his granddaughter Jaylin. He loved to tell of her accomplishments, even when she was a toddler in daycare. Even in the hospital when he couldn’t speak, his eyebrows raised when a report was given about Jaylin.
Health issues caused him to retire early and deal with many health issues. Wayne worked hard, lived hard, prayed hard and loved hard. He had a big heart, full of wisdom, witty sayings and honest to a fault. He never proclaimed to be perfect but he acknowledged that he was a man of God living in a human world. Every day he fought a good fight.
Along with his parents, his brother Richard, his nephew Montrelles, close family friend Martha, special uncle John Lee, and cousin Edith preceded him in death. He will be greatly missed and his memories cherished by his daughter Andrea Monique Robinson (Sean) in Durham; Crystal Nicole Jones in Apex; granddaughter Jaylin; his sister Lori in Durham; his partner of over 25 years Dianne Whack, her daughter and family Tonya, Ronald, Zyonna and Jasmine; Aunt Bessie Mae Suitt who took him and his siblings in her care after the death of his mother; Louis and Betty Cozart who he respected as a father and mother; special cousins Sandra Suitt, Monica Allen, Kathy (Robert) Yates and family, Daryl (Velma) Suitt and family, John (Sonia) Suitt Jr. and family, Bill Evans and family, Ronald (Sharon) Evans and family, Phyllis (Dungee) Taylor and family; and a host of other relatives and friends.