Obituary for Mike Jones

MR. MICHAEL TYRON “MIKE” JONES, age 69, of Milan, GA, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at his residence after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

 Funeral services will be held at 3:00PM Sunday, March 29, at Antioch Baptist Church #2 in Milan, GA, with Rev. Bill Jones and Mr. Tim Vaughn officiating, with interment in Antioch #2 Baptist Cemetery.

 Mike was born on April 9, 1956, and was a lifelong resident of Milan, GA. He was a 1975 graduate of West Telfair Academy and soon after earned his CDL license. He worked as a truck driver for over 51 years and during that time he had the privilege to work with some outstanding companies, including L.A. Watkins Trucking, Stuckey’s Candy Company, as a long-haul trucker, Lumber Transport in Cochran, GA, and Tommy Fussell Trucking. Mike later became owner and operator of SanDel Transport for many years and was also owner and operator of D & M Transport, where he hauled produce for Knight Farms and Watkins Brothers Trucking. He concluded his career as a trucker hauling logs for Carey Locke Logging, Inc. He enjoyed spending time at the Jones family farm, sitting on his porch in the evenings, and loved NASCAR Racing. Above all trucking was his life and he loved it. He was affectionately known as “Poppi” to his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Seab Tyrus Jones, his Grandparents, Julia Williams Jones and L.C. Jones and Inez Mullis Evans and Arthur James Evans.

 He is survived by his Wife of 46 years – Dale Lee Jones of Milan; Daughters – Stephanie Jones Graham of Brooklet, GA and Jenna Jones Dean (Cory) of Dublin; Mother – Joan Evans Jones of Milan, GA; 5 Grandchildren – Isabella Graham, Jasper Dean, Lauren Graham, Chloe Dean, and Sydney Graham; Sister-in-law – Paula Vaughn (Tim) of Eastman; Brother-in-law – Jeff Lee (Catherine) of Dahlonega, GA; Niece and Nephews – Gavin Lee of Dawsonville, GA, Caroline Lee of Tampa, FL, Will Vaughn (Devin) of Hawkinsville, GA, and Tana Vaughn of New York, NY; Great-Nieces – Charlotte Vaughn and Brantley Kate Vaughn; Aunts – Linda Vaughn of Dublin, GA, and Annette Wood of Milan, GA; Numerous Cousins and Friends; Caregivers – J.J. Peterson, Tiffany Howard, Annette Harrell, Melanie Wooten, and Lisa Boone.

 The family may be contacted at the residence of Mrs. Joan E. Jones, 81 4th Ave, Milan, GA, 31060, and will receive friends in Southerland Funeral Chapel from 5:00PM-7:00PM Saturday, March 28. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Hospice Care Options and Mike’s hospice nurse, Kayla Jones, for all the care they provided during his final days. In addition to flowers, the family requests contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org/.