Hugh Henry Jones Jr.

Hugh H. Jones, Jr. passed away on June 27,2024 at the grand age of 94. Born April 22, 1930, in Pittsburgh, PA, he graduated from Lafayette College in 1952 where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He also graduated from the Stonier School of Banking at Rutgers University and earned his Master’s in Business Administration at New York University in 1956.

Hugh’s service in the U. S. Army as a First Lieutenant Infantry Ranger from 1952 until 1954 included a tour in Korea. In 1954 he joined the Chemical Bank of New York in Manhattan and after 16 years, moved to Jacksonville and joined the Barnett Bank. After serving in several subsequent roles within the bank and holding company, he was named Chairman and Chief Executive Office of the local Jacksonville Bank in 1982. In 1993 Hugh retired from Barnett and joined Baptist Health Foundation as President until 1998.

Hugh Jones’ name is synonymous with “devoted community servant” in Jacksonville. He was a visionary leader of numerous philanthropic and volunteer activities. In recent years he concentrated his efforts on the care of the homeless and of sick children. In 1985 he founded the Korean Heart Program to aid indigent Korean youngsters with congenital heart problems. Seventy-one of these children came to Jacksonville for corrective, life-saving surgery at University Medical Center (now UF/Shands Jacksonville) and Wolfson Children’s Hospital at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville. South Korea awarded Hugh with the Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit in 1990.

Recognition of Hugh’s dedication to the needs of others has been at the local, state and national levels through the programs he initiated at Barnett Bank. In 1990 Hugh was recognized by the Caring Institute in Washington, DC as one of the Ten Most Caring People in America and in 1993, the Barnett Bank received the “1012th” Daily Point of Light for the Nation from President George H. W Bush. In 2005 he was honored by the University of North Florida with the Prime Osborn Business Leader Award and the I. M. Sulzbacher Homeless Center named their Medical and Dental Facility for Hugh in 2007. He was a Founding Director and a powerful force behind the creation of the Center. Through Deerwood Rotary he was honored as a Harris Fellow of Rotary International. Over his lifetime, Hugh made significant differences in the lives of many who could not do that for themselves.

Predeceased by his parents, Hugh Henry and Merriem Robinson Jones, his brother Gordon R. Jones, M.D., and his first wife Joyce M. Jones Anderson, Hugh is survived by his wife, Jackie C. Jones, and five daughters: Cynthia J. Gaultney (John), Merriem J. Chapman (Jim), Laura J. Walt (John), Abi Park Moore (Peter), Josephine Merriem Jones, 16 beloved grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Hugh’s life will be held on Saturday July 13th, at 11:00 am at the St. Johns Presbyterian Church, 4275 Herschel Street, Jacksonville, FL 32210. In lieu of flowers please make memorial gifts to benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207 or I. M. Sulzbacher Center, 611 East Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202.

Arrangements are under the care of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4801 San Jose Blvd. , Jacksonville, FL.