Twenty-nine years ago a seed was planted.  It was February 1979.  The choir director at Jones Memorial Methodist Church asked four men from the Chancel Choir to sing as a quartet as part of the "Winter Camp Meeting" style services.  He assisted them in preparing a Southern Gospel Style piece.  They worked hard, this was something none of them had ever done before.  The Sunday came, and along with it, a very bad snow/ice storm.  Services at churches in the Atlanta area were called off that Sunday.  But the men kept practicing and later that month they did sing their song.  They learned they loved the close harmony of the Southern Gospel style and from that seed grew The Jonesmen.

Two of the original four have sung since the beginning - Walter Sheppard, Lead and Steve White Bass.  Paul Willis, Tenor sang until 1987 and rejoined the group in July of 2006.  Larry Alberts came on board in 1982.  There were 13 other men who were a part of the ministry in various parts.  In the beginning they used piano accompaniment, then added 2 guitars, keyboard, and drums.  They found that trying to get 10 men going in the same direction at the same time often difficult.  Slowly and reluctantly they switched to singing with accompaniment sound tracks.  With that, their ministry really blossomed.  Ronnie Wang, who had played drums with the group previously took over the Tenor part in 1987.  Phil Guptill became the sound technician and can sing the other parts when someone is out.  On occasion Chad Sheppard, Walter's son, joins them in assisting in any way he can.

The Jonesmen feel their purpose is to share their love of Jesus through their music.  They never require a fee for singing and will sing anytime their schedules permit.  They sing in churches of various denominations for services, programs, banquets, retreats, at camp meetings, nursing homes, homeless shelters, jails, for civic organizations, benefits for individuals and organizations.  They even sang at the Georgia Dome for the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church for Vision 2000.  They have sung in many churches in the Metro Atlanta area, but that isn't the limit.  Their ministry has taken them throughout the state of Georgia to Alabama, Tennessee and Illinois.  It is estimated they have sung over 1000 times these past 28 years.  They love to poke good natured fun at each other, showing you can laugh and be a Christian.

These men have become more like brothers.  They have been through many good and bad times, always being there for each other.  They have watched their children grow up.  They have suffered the loss of parents.  Professions have changed.  Health crisis have challenged them from time to time.  Some periods the Jonesmen have had to slow their singing commitments down a bit, but the Lord has proved time and again that he isn't finished with them yet.

The members have changed some over the years but their purpose has stayed the same.  All praise and honor to our Lord!

Others Who Have Contributed to the Ministry of
The Jonesmen

Paul Willis, Tenor, 1979-1987; 2006
Keith Bailey, Tenor, 1987-1988
Ronnie Wang, Tenor, 1988-2006
Hugh MacDonald, Baritone, 1979
Bill Durham, Baritone, 1979
Jeff McCord, Baritone, 1980
Mark Stone, Baritone, 1980
Wayne Chisenhall, Baritone, 1980-1982
Ray Yates, Lead, 1990
Bill Field, Piano; David Dillard, Keyboard;
Dick Williams, Bass Guitar; Rick Goss, Guitar;
Russell Barnes, Drums; Ronnie Wang, Drums; Chad Sheppard, Assistant Sound Technician