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Larry Alberts, Baritone
Larry and his wife Sue Ellen live
in McDonough, GA. Larry was
a member of Jones Memorial when he
became involved with the group,
but after moving to McDonough, he
joined Glen Haven Baptist church.
He sings in the adult choir and
holds several leadership positions
within the church. They have two
children and two precious grand- children.
Larry, retired from the Post
Office as Post Master for Morrow,
GA, has been singing with the
group since 1982.
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Walter Sheppard,
Lead
Walter and his wife Freda live in
Stockbridge, GA and attend Jones
Memorial United Methodist Church. Walter
sings with his church choir and
the "Excelsior Choir".
They have one son, Chad, who helps
out with the Jonesmen when not on
the road with his own Southern
Gospel group - "Emmaus Road".
Walter is retired from Delta
Airlines and is an original Jonesmen.
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Steve and his wife Mary Ruth
live in Jonesboro, GA and
attend Jones Memorial United
Methodist Church.
Steve sings in the church
choir and also with the
" Excelsior" Choir". They
have two sons. Steve
is a Funeral Director with
Tara Garden/Parkway Garden
Funeral Homes. Steve
has been singing
since 1979 as an original Jonesmen.
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Paul and his wife Kimberly
live in Forest Park, GA and
attend Mt. Gilead United
Methodist Church in Atlanta
where Paul is the pastor. Paul
was original to the group
but left to go into
full-time pastoral ministry
after he graduated from
Candler School of Theology
at Emory University in
Atlanta, GA. Paul has returned to the group in
July, 2006. Paul also
sings with "Excelsior".
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Chad Sheppard, PT Sound
Technician
Chad lives in McDonough, GA
and attends Harvest Baptist
Church. He sings
baritone for a gospel group
where he has just written
and recorded his first song
titled "God of the Living"
which can be heard at
www.emausroadquartet.com.
Chad also sings with "Excelsior".
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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
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