History • Memory • Legacy

JONESStores · Est. 1954

Your hometown store, remembered

Jones Stores started in Tabor City and became a familiar stop for families across North and South Carolina. This memorial gathers the history, photographs, and remembered details already preserved, and invites everyone with pictures, stories, and memories to help expand the record.

Origins

Photo archive

The people behind the sign

Jones Stores was more than a name on a sign. It was people, work, delivery trucks, family ties, and everyday routines woven into the towns it served. These photographs are some of the few pieces already in hand.

TruckJ&C Wholesale Co. delivery truck in Tabor City, North Carolina
FounderJ.P. Jones portrait near his red car
FamilyThe Jones family together
1958J.P. Jones with his children around 1958
FamilyJ.P. Jones with daughter Jennie
FamilyJ.P. Jones with daughters Darlene and Jennie
Timeline

Store history

From founding to regional chain

1924

Born in Fuquay-Varina, NC

James Pervis "J.P." Jones was born on October 20, 1924 to William M. and Mamie Collins Jones in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.

1944

Married Lynda Lou Pope

J.P. married Lynda Lou Pope from Angier, NC. She proved to be the needed foundation for his family while he executed his strong work ethic in ministry, business, charities, and farming.

Lynda Lou Pope Jones, 1940s portrait
Lynda Lou Pope Jones, 1940s portrait

1953

Founding Member, Emmanuel Holiness General Conference

J.P. became a founding member of the Emmanuel Holiness General Conference. He would later be honored as the last living founder before his passing in 2018.

1954

Founded Jones Stores & J&C Wholesale Co.

J.P. founded Jones Stores and J&C Wholesale Co. in Tabor City, NC. The "J" stood for Jones, the "C" for Cartrette — his partner and fellow father-in-law James Allen Cartrette.

J.P. Jones with his five children, circa 1958
J.P. Jones with his five children, circa 1958

1960s–80s

Expansion Across the Carolinas

Jones Stores grew steadily across the border counties of North and South Carolina, serving small towns that lacked large department stores with variety merchandise — household goods, hardware, clothing, and toys.

1984

Son Mike Co-Founds Committee of 100

Michael Kent Jones co-founded the Tabor City Committee of 100, the town's premier economic development organization, alongside Andy Lefler, Ray Wicker, and Henri Gordon.

1999

Peak — 40+ Stores, 600 Employees

Jones Stores reached its peak with over 40 locations across North and South Carolina, employing roughly 600 people and generating $19.6 million in annual revenue from a 100,000 sq ft headquarters in Tabor City.

2006

Lynda Lou Passes

Lynda Lou Pope Jones passed away on January 15, 2006 at Loris Hospital, after 62 years of marriage.

2018

J.P. Passes at 93

Rev. J.P. Jones passed on June 4, 2018. An active pastor for over 50 years, a builder of businesses, and a pillar of his community — he was honored as the last living founding member of the Emmanuel Holiness General Conference.

Obituary portrait of Rev. J.P. Jones
Obituary portrait of Rev. J.P. Jones
Store Map

Store locations

Where the stores were

The chain operated from Tabor City outward into North and South Carolina. These known locations show the geographic reach people still remember.

North Carolina

  • Tabor CityConfirmed

    Headquarters & J&C Wholesale warehouse

  • BladenboroConfirmed

    Managed by Darlene Jones Cain for 30 years

  • ClarendonConfirmed
  • WhitevilleProbable
  • ChadbournProbable
  • Fair BluffProbable

South Carolina

  • LorisConfirmed
  • Green SeaConfirmed
  • ConwayProbable
  • MullinsProbable
Inside the Jones Store in Bladenboro, NC circa 1999
Bladenboro store interior, circa 1999
Memories

Public memory

What people still remember

These aren’t polished family bios. They’re fragments from customers, neighbors, employees, and relatives, exactly the kind of details that disappear first when no archive exists.

CommunityOct 7, 2021
I didn't know this man, but I have acquired a small black box inscribed with Rev. J.P. Jones. Inside it has the small glass cups for an individual or personal communion. If any one in his family would like to have it, I would be happy to send it to you.

Lisa

CommunityJun 13, 2018
Prayers for the Jones family. Blessed with many fond memories.

Pansy M. Walker and Brad Walker

CommunityJun 6, 2018
Darlene and family, met Preacher Jones several times while he pastored the church in Bladenboro and he was always the same every time I met him. As God has blessed him with a long productive life, my is that God will do the same for every member of the family. Thank God there is a heaven, we shall meet again. Love you folks.

G C & Linda Bryan

CustomerJun 6, 2018
Thoughts and prayers for family and friends of this fine man. My mother, Laura Sarvis and I are sharing thoughts yesterday of her teaching knitting in Tabor City and experiences with the Jones family. We would go to the Jones warehouse and pick out skeins of yarn. She planned color schemes for afghans and boxes of yarn were ordered. Mr Jones and co. were wonderful.

Willa S Bailey

CommunityJun 6, 2018
I wish to extend my condolence to Rev. Jones. He was the minister at my wedding in 1957. I still have pictures of that day of him in the wedding party. He also took part in my grandfather's funeral (Rev. Grover McKee) in 1959. My grandfather was also a founding member of the Emmanuel Holiness Church and gave the land for the tabernacle on hwy. 701. Rev. Jones was known as a fine man, a Christian man and my grandfather respected him as a person and as a pastor. He leaves a legacy of many accomplishments. May God bless his family.

Anonymous

CommunityJun 6, 2018
So sorry for your loss keeping the family in my prayers.

Cathy McKee

CommunityJun 6, 2018
So sorry for your loss. May God wrap you all in his loving arms and comfort you. May your memories will be a treasure always.

Sherry Mincey

CommunityJun 6, 2018
Ronnie, Mike, Dennis and family, Prayers for each of you. Praising God for the years he had to be a beacon for so many. He is now singing praises to our Lord and Savior. May God comfort you now and in the days ahead. Sincerely, Nanette M. Strickland

Nanette M. Strickland

CommunityJun 6, 2018
Jennie I am so sorry for your loss. I pray for you to continue to find peace knowing he's with Jesus and no longer in pain. Hugs to you and your family.

Judy Ipock

CommunityJun 6, 2018
Prayers for the family. Preacher Jones was a fine Christian man.

Jeff Spivey

CommunityJun 5, 2018
"Preacher Jones" was truly a gifted man; gifted with the ability to minister to God's people, gifted with work ethic, gifted with personality, gifted with concern for others and a desire to help them, gifted with family and friends, gifted with compassion, gifted with a love of the land and the gift of growing things and most importantly with the gift of love for his Lord and Savior. Surely his walk was filled with spaces where the Lord carried him and now He has carried him home, after a remarkable life here on earth and who knows what greatness awaits him as he worships his Lord and Savior in a way that can only occur in the heavenly realm to which he has traveled. Do not mourn his loss, but rejoice in Heaven's gain and know that he now walks in the Garden and talks with his Creator. I feel certain the conversation will contain the words "...well done my good and faithful servant." Rest In Peace my friend and know you will be missed, but in our memories you will always dwell.

Bill, Ann, Winslow and Wyatt Phipps

FamilyJun 5, 2018
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for the Jones Family. Mr. J.P. was such a fine person and a real man of God. He will surely be missed.

Cathy Cartrette Beck

CommunityJun 5, 2018
Thoughts and prayers for the Jones family.

Wayne and Robin Soles

FamilyJun 5, 2018
"For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the even." - Psalm 48:14

Roger Jones

CustomerJun 5, 2018
Mr. Jones was always kind to me when I met him on the street, grocery store, his store. He was always the same each time you met him. He will be missed.

Judy Lanier Lowery

CommunityJun 5, 2018
Thinking of the Jones family at this time, praying for inner peace for all.

Dennis Hardin

EmployeeJun 5, 2018
PRAYERS FOR JONES FAMILY. MR J.P. WILL BE MISSED. HE WAS A GREAT MENTOR FOR ME. DALE AND WANDA WARD.

Dale and Wanda Ward

CommunityJun 4, 2018
So sorry for your loss. You all are in our thoughts and prayers.

Samantha Mercer Thompson

CommunityJun 4, 2018
Thoughts of Sympathy to you!

Byron E. Fowler

CommunityJun 4, 2018
So sorry Heath. You are in my prayers.

Joyce McGehee

CommunityJun 4, 2018
Sending love to your family. Hulda Tayloe

Hulda Tayloe

CommunityJun 4, 2018
My heart warming prayers go out to each and every one of his family. You children have always felt like part of mine. I know you will miss him along with our whole community, but can you just imagine the rejoicing that is happening in heaven right now? Besides your loving mom there to greet him, oh so many of his friends that have went on before him will welcome him also. I can just see all those that met at the store telling all their fish stories and of course eating them as well, getting all caught up on the latest news. He was a very dear friend to our family. Love you all.

Betty Hinson

CommunityJun 4, 2018
Prayers for the Jones family. Mr. Jones was always one of my favorite people and he will be missed.

Linda Buffkin Hopkins

CommunityJun 4, 2018
PRAYERS FOR THE JONES FAMILY.

Angie Grainger

CommunityJun 4, 2018
RIP Mr. JP you will be missed!!

Daniel & Stephanie Ward & kids

Contribute

Contribute to the archive

Add to the memorial

If you have a story, a photograph, a store location, or a memory tied to Jones Stores, send it in here. Every contribution helps build a fuller memorial to the stores and the legacy they left behind.

Memory Submission Form

Tell us what you remember buying there, seeing there, hearing there, or what photographs and details you still have.

Optional. Upload one image if you have a store photo, family snapshot, or related memory to share. JPG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC up to 20MB.

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Submissions are reviewed before being added publicly so this memorial can keep growing with accurate stories, photographs, and shared history.