Malcolm Gwynne Jones
Malcolm ( Mac) Gwynne Jones Jr. born on January 23, 1936 in Waynesboro, VA died peacefully on May 7, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Malcolm Gwynne Jones and Mary Woodfin White Jones, and sister Nancy Kent Zachary. He is survived by his wife Judith Eleanor Cowen Jones, children Deborah Hodgkinson Jones, Allison Kent Evanow (William) and Gregory Edmunds Jones, step sisters Mary Jackson Reed (James) and Elizabeth Ray Morgan (Roy) as well as 4 grandchildren: - Reed Malcolm Jones, Meredith Hodgkinson Jones, Jackson Addison Evanow, Alexander Crowell Evanow.
He was a graduate of Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Delaware where he was senior class President and Captain of the football team, then continued his education at his beloved University of Virginia, graduating in 1959 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. While at UVa, Mac was a member of the football team, served on Student Council and the Fraternity Alumni Council, was Vice President of the Engineering School, as well as Treasurer and President of Chi Psi Fraternity.
After graduating and marriage to Judy, he worked for the E.I. DuPont Company in Parlin, N.J. until 1963 before returning to Waynesboro to pursue a career in real estate and development. He purchased the Barnwell Insurance Agency from his uncle, Warren Barnwell, and added real estate services to form Barnwell & Jones Inc, where he remained the President and Owner until his retirement in 2013. During his career his primary focus was commercial development, working on many projects with his father, and as Managing General Partner for multiple real estate partnerships and other business ventures.
Mac was a proud native of Waynesboro and, like his father, immersed himself in numerous community organizations to make Waynesboro a wonderful place to live, raise a family, and do business. He sat on many advisory committees and boards of local businesses and non-profits, often acting as Chairman, President, or Director during his time of service. Mac was a longtime participant in Rotary and Roundtable community service and social clubs. He was one of the original founders of the local chapter of the Junior Achievement program as well as the Fall Foliage Festival. He took particular pride serving as the Chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee of Waynesboro Community Hospital and strongly advocated for the merger with King’s Daughters Hospital in Staunton to form what is now Augusta Health.
Outside of work and community service, despite being a self-described “workaholic”, Mac was also a dedicated family man. The family has fond memories of going to UVa football and basketball games, many skiing trips, summer vacations in Hilton Head, trips abroad and a memorable cross-country trip across the US. But Mac’s favorite travel experience was later in life when he went to Wales where he was able to meet distant relatives and learn more about his Welsh heritage, which he truly reveled in. Mac’s personal passions were bird and deer hunting as a member of Wild Turkey Hunt Club, cheering on the Wahoos, and a lifetime of service to his Chi Psi Fraternity at UVa, which honored him by establishing an annual alumnus service award in his name.
There will be a Commemoration service at Mc Dow Funeral Home, Friday, May 24th at 11:30 a.m. with a reception immediately following at the Jones’ home.
Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial donations be directed to a charity of one’s choosing.
