Billy Jones

Rev. Billy Raymond Jones, of Gallatin and formerly of Clarksville, went to claim his Heavenly reward on Friday, July 23, 2021. He was 91.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at the First Assembly of God Church, 1186 Fort Campbell Blvd, Clarksville, TN, interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, with Rev. Louie Montoya, Rev. Glenn Burks, Rev. Todd Alexander, Rev. Lee Hicks and his son, David Jones officiating. Bro. Jones’ family will receive friends from 12:00-1:30 on Saturday at the church.

Billy Raymond Jones was born in Naples, Texas to parents Horace and Flora Moreland Jones on November 13, 1929.He spent his formative years in the same farmhouse where he was born. Early on Billy developed a strong passion for service and enlisted in the Air Force, where he spent his “wild and wooly” days. But then he met Jesus and was called to preach.

After his discharge from the military at the age of 23, he obeyed the command to preach the gospel. He preached his first sermon on a street corner in Ft. Worth, Texas to the “winos and prostitutes.” Shortly after, he became a full time Assembly of God evangelist, who had one speed and it was “Go”. While ministering in a church near Linden, TX he met his sweetheart, Elizabeth Scoma who became his bride and stood by his side for almost 68 years. They were Evangelist traveling for two years before becoming a pastor in Mansfield, TX. After a short while he went on the Evangelistic trail again for a year before becoming pastor of a church in Overton, TX. The call as an Evangelist pulled again, so he left the pastorate to Evangelize for four more years before returning to Linden, TX to pastor for five years. He left Linden to pastor briefly in Howe, OK before feeling the call to pioneer/plant a church in Clarksville, TN-Home of the 101st Airborne.


The first Sunday in February 1966, 12 attended the service but in the decades that followed the church became one of Clarksville’s strongest Bible-believing churches. For 25 years, the church grew through four building programs because of the leadership of Rev. Billy R. Jones. Those who attended knew he was the real deal and that his preaching was rooted in a love for souls. His leadership and ministry remained at the heart of that church throughout his 25-year service. Among the thousands effected by his ministry, many are serving Jesus throughout the world.

After 25 years he “retired” to Gun Barrel City, TX for eight years where he pioneered another church before returning back to TN in 1999. During his “2nd Retirement” he was interim pastor to many churches, held several revivals and always a faithful church worker.

He was strong, stubborn and sweet. He loved his wife and family more than life itself. If you visited his house at a certain time each day you could hear him in the backroom spending time in prayer. His Bible was worn out but he never was. Many have called Rev. Jones their mentor, their forever Pastor, their 2nd dad and/or their hero of the faith.

Rev. Jones is survived by his beloved wife and strongest supporter of nearly 68 years, Elizabeth Ann Jones; his son, David Raymond (Laura) Jones; daughter, Rebecca Ann Jones Gipson; grandchildren, Jennifer (Teall) Garrett, Jaime (Nick) Vantsa, Starla (Matt) Crowell, and Joshua (Candice) Gipson; and his great grandchildren, Warren Garrett, Cooper Garrett, Alexander Vantsa, Amelia Vantsa, Miriam Brown, Lydia Brown, Eva Crowell, and Carly Ann Gipson.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideons International at SendTheWord.org

Arrangements are in the care of McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home. Condolences may be made to the Jones family at NaveFuneralHomes.com

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Billy Raymond Jones, please visit our Tree Store.