Wednesday, May 6, 2026 2:47 pm

Dan Holden Jones Jr, 84, passed away on Monday, May 4th in Shelby, NC. Raised in Farmville, NC, Dan joined the Army and then enrolled in Campbell University where he earned his Bachelor of Science. He got his Masters of Arts and Education at Western Carolina. He met the love of his life, Mary Lee Willis while in school and they married not long after in 1966. Mary Lee and Dan settled in Fort Mill, SC where he worked in various capacities within the Fort Mill School District and later retired as the District Office's Director Of Personnel. While a citizen of Fort Mill he was an active member at St. John's United Methodist Church and an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 108, where he earned the Woodbadge leadership award.



Dan and Mary Lee retired from their careers in the South Carolina school system and moved to the family farm in Belwood, NC, where they lovingly renovated Mary Lee's childhood home. Ever needing to stay busy, Dan took a job at the Davidson School in Kings Mountain, NC, as the guidance counselor. After retiring from that job he did a lot of fishing, horse training and trail riding in his beloved South Mountain State Park. Their shared love of adventure brought he and Mary Lee on many trips. Among the highlights were California, Europe, and Alaska.



Always driven by a passion for serving his community, Dan was involved with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 413 in Belwood, was a founder of the Friends of Belwood charity and was actively involved in the Friends of South Mountain State Park non-profit. He was a committed member of St. Peter's United Methodist Church for many years, where he served as the President of the Methodist Men. He was the driving force behind the now traditional Shrove Tuesday Supper at St. Peter's which raises money for various local causes in need.



Dan H Jones Jr. was a loving husband, a kind and forgiving person, an advocate for the disadvantaged, a lover of adventure, a devoted father, and a good friend who was always quick with a joke and a laugh. He loved and was loved.



He was preceded in death by his father, Dan H Jones; mother, Charlotte Hodges Jones; sister, Barbara Britt Jones Keel.



He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Lee Willis Jones and his sons, Dan H Jones III (Mara) and Michael Paul Jones.



A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 3:00pm at St. Peter's Methodist Church.



The family will receive friends following the service.



Burial will be private.



In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, Friends of Belwood, c/o Rebecca Peeler, 130 Covington Road, Lawndale, NC 28090 or to Friends of South Mountains State Park, Inc (Searchable on PayPal).



Online condolences can be made at www.stameytysingerfuneralhome.com.



Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Stamey-Tysinger Funeral Home & Cremation Center-Fallston.