Greensboro has lost another long-time Sports Fan:Today we remember Johnny Jones

Former local sports fan, Johnny Jones, has left us at age 70….Johnny Jones was a big fan of the Greensboro Monarchs and Greensboro Generals ice hockey teams, he followed the Greensboro Hornets, the Greensboro Bats, and the Greensboro Grasshoppers…He spent many a night watching his favorite local sports teams, and he also knew a lot about local sports, from his days working events at the Greensboro Coliseum…

You could recognize Johnny Jones by his white hair and his white beard, and he was a friend to all….He watched many a sporting event over the years here in the Gate City alongside our GreensboroSports.com curator and founder, Don Moore…Don Moore, Robert Stutts, and Johnny Jones took in many games at the old ballyard/ballpark, and at the Big Barn on West Lee Street, as you look back at the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s….

These men, Johnny Jones, Don Moore, and Robert Stutts were the cornerstone of the evolving local pro sports fan base, through the years….Bruce Bullington, the former manager of the online Greensboro Hockey Museum, was another in the long line of local sports fans, who were so passionate about our local teams….Bruce left us back in 2012, and now Johnny Jones is gone in 2022….

What can you say, they don’t make them like Johnny Jones any more…The die-hard local sports fans are dying out, and I do not feel we will see the likes of them any more when they are all gone….The Johnny Jones, Bruce Bullintons, Don Moores, Roberts Stutts, they are a dying breed, and they just don’t make ’em like those guys any more….

We share in the memory of Johnny Jones here today, and salute him for his loyalty to the Greensboro Coliseum, and to the Greensboro sports teams, over the years….

RIP:Johnny Jones

from www.greensboro.com:
Jones, John “Johnny” Gray
CLICK HERE for the infamous Johnny Jones photo, with the white hair, and white beard….

May 20, 1952 – June 11, 2022

John “Johnny” Gray Jones, 70, of Ocean, formerly of Greensboro, died Saturday, June 11, 2022, peacefully in his sleep at home.

His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home in Sedgefield. Interment will follow at Guilford Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Monday, June 20, at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home.

John was born on May 20, 1952, in Greensboro, North Carolina, to the late Fred and Marie Jones. He was an employee of the Greensboro Coliseum, where he worked for over 26 years. While working there he met many of the ACC teams, and a lot of famous musicians. He particularly liked playing ping pong with John Denver when he was in town. John loved Duke basketball, NASCAR, and was a big follower of Tom Brady.

He is survived by his sister, Judy Hudson of Ocean; niece, Sandy Gunnell of Ocean; great niece, Leah Gunnell and partner Jeremy Stockdale of Havelock: nephews Barry Woodell and wife Dawn, of Gibsonville; and great nephews, Cody Woodell and Jacob Woodell, both of Gibsonville.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Kenneth Hudson, and his best friend “Buddy” the dog.

The family would like to thank Carteret Heath Care Hospice for their kindness, along with family and friends who have offered support to Judy and her daughter, Sandy, especially Brenda and Randy Honeycutt, Sharon McMasters, Bill Hobbs, Garry Shepherd, and Philip Jones.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City, NC and Hanes Lineberry in Sedgefield, NC.