Family History
Small Town Southern Men
A family history through country music — how a lineage of five Richard Jones’s found new life in Faith, North Carolina.
“I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole” came seeping through the windows of my grandad’s brand new 1979 Chevrolet pickup truck pulling out of the Faith Baptist Church parking lot in Rowan County. My dad, the fifth Richard Jones, sits in the middle of the bench seat wedged between his parents, the fourth Richard and Carla Jones. All singing “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard in perfect harmony while on the way to lunch with the whole family after the service. My dad stared starry eyed at his father, his role model, as he leaned back one hand on the wheel, one hand sipping his spiked Mountain Dew.
“God Bless The USA”
“If I had to start again with just my children and my wife
I’d thank my lucky stars to be living here today
because the flag still stands for freedom
and they can’t take that away”
—Lee Greenwood, “God Bless The USA”
Through this project, I will explore the lives of Five Richard Jones’s, along with their origins, father-son relationships, military service, and a family-defining culture of unity, faith, and country music.
My dad’s great grandfather was named Richard Owen Jones. At the young age of 20, he decided to leave his native land of Trevor, Wales, a small town in the North of Wales known for its brick cutting. He landed at Ellis Island in New York in 1905, and immediately traveled south. He settled down with his wife, Cora, in Faith, Rowan County, North Carolina and worked as a stone cutter with his expertise from his hometown. I imagine that he found the name highly symbolic. Faith, North Carolina, became his family’s home for generations and generations.
My dad’s great grandfather, Richard Jones, had started a new life in Faith with his wife and 5 kids. Cora would make him his coffee black every morning before work and he would read the paper as the kids left for school. Throughout this lovely family scene in the States, war was raging in his home country of Europe.
“American Soldier”
“I will always do my duty
No matter what the price,
I’ve counted up the cost
I know the sacrifice.”
— Toby Keith, “American Soldier”
In 1917, Richard joined the US Army. He was shipped to Europe to battle the Germans in the brisk winds and dense forests of the death stricken Argonne. He then pushed onward and fought the Italians at Vittorio Veneto until the end of The Great War in 1918.
Richard returned to his family and life back home but his eldest son Richard II would soon follow in his footsteps. The Jones’s had become a very patriotic family, so Richard II joined up to fight the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He left his wife Edna and son Richard III and became a private in Patton’s third army, who fought the germans in the hot desserts of Africa until being shipped to France in July of 1944. Here, he and his brothers in arms of the third army fought hard and pushed German forces all the way back through France, Belgium, and into Germany.
With my dad’s great grandfather and grandfather serving in the World Wars and one of my dad’s uncles serving in the fields of Vietnam, the US military became an ingrained part of the Jones family. Thankfully all of these brave men made it home safely to their families, but for Richard II, he would return with some demons of war causing problems for him and his family.
“I walk the Line” —Johnny Cash
My dad’s father, Richard III ,and his 3 brothers, had a rough upbringing relying mostly on their mother Edna. My dad has close to nothing good to say about his grandfather. Sadly, after my dad’s grandfather returned from World War II, he turned to alcohol to cope with the horrors and bloody combat he witnessed in Europe. He would return most nights with the smell of alcohol on his breath. My dad’s father could tell by the unnecessary yelling, anger, and obscene language at his mother, brothers and himself. This caused my dad’s father to spend most nights locked in his room working on homework, studying, or listening to country music. My dad’s father did not have a good relationship with his father at all but this void in his life pushed him to be the first member of the Jones family to go to college. He became a pharmacist and lived with his wife Carla and son Richard. He learned from his dad on how not to raise a family. He was an amazing father, husband, and grandfather despite his difficult childhood.
“A Country Boy Can Survive”
“I got a shotgun, a rifle, and a four wheel drive
and a country boy can survive”
— Hank Williams Jr., “A Country Boy can Survive”
With Hank Jr. in the truck speakers, my dad’s father cruised down Innes Street with the windows down, one arm on the wheel, one sipping his spiked Mountain Dew. He was headed to East Rowan High School for my father’s graduation. He remembered how it felt when his father was not there for him, so he made sure to leave with plenty of time to spare.
He was the very first one in the auditorium to watch his son walk across the stage. My father went on to become an orthopedic surgeon with a great love for his new home and family, but never resists the opportunity speak of his childhood and his great relationship with his father and the rest of the Jones family that loves nothing more than God, family, guns, and country music.
“And he bowed his head to Jesus
and he stood For Uncle Sam
and he only loved one woman
he was always proud of what he had
he said his greatest contribution is the ones you leave behind
raised on the ways and gentle kindness of a small town southern man”
— Alan Jackson, “Small Town Southern Man”
I am going to interview my dad, Richard IV, about our family, their life stories, relationships, and how country music united us.
“The flavor on whatever we do”
An Interview with Richard Jones IV
My Spotify Playlist: spotify:playlist:4IQkU2k1jh9M5NpWHOOknj
“We’ll do it tomorrow” was a reoccurring phrase I heard from my father. My dad and I both lead very busy lives and neither of us could find the time to conduct this interview. One day my mom and dad and I were cruising down the road on the way to Wake Forest University. We were going to attend their home football game against UNC and visit my sister who would be on the sidelines as a member of the dance team. I realized that this would be the perfect time to interview him because we were in the car together, and for once, we both had free time on our hands. I conducted and recorded my interview during this family car ride making it a very enjoyable and informative ride for the whole family.
Me: What is your full name and date of birth?
Dad: My name is Richard Brian Jones and I was born on April 5, 1970.
Me: How long have you listened to country music?
Dad: Um, maybe 40 years or so, pretty much as long as I can remember.
Me: Who is your favorite country music artist?
Dad: Um… Willie Nelson would definitely be up there but that is very hard for me to pick.
Me: What makes a good country song?
Dad: Oh gosh, um what I like in a country song is when it tells a good story. Songs nowadays don’t have a story. Country music tells tons of different stories of all emotions. I also love a country song that reminds me of when I was younger. Most importantly, nice guitar picking.
Me: What role does country music play in your life?
Dad: It is the flavor on whatever we do. Whether were on the boat or grilling on the patio or whatever, we are always listening to country music in the background. Especially when we are eating as a family. We never eat without country music.
Me: How important is faith in the Jones family?
Dad: It is very important, it is what we use as the gauge we base our lives on. Everything we do is for our faith.
Me: In my research I discovered Richard Jones, your great-grandfather, who left his native Trevor, Wales for America in 1905. He was 21 years old. Why do you think he decided to make this move?
Dad: Wow I didn’t even know that, um… I’m sure it was a financial situation and he wanted to make a better life for himself in the US.
Me: He moved to Faith, Rowan County, NC, why Faith, NC?
Dad: I don’t really know but I would assume to go all the way from New York to Rowan County he would have to have some prearranged reason to go like maybe a job opportunity or some family or something. It is a great place.
Me: Do you know how Faith got its name? I read somewhere that President George H.W. Bush once celebrated July 4th there.
Dad: That’d be a short answer no, hahaha, but Yea I remember president Bush coming, I wasn’t there. I was at college at the time but Faith was named an all American city or something and President Bush passed through on the Fourth.
Me: The town of Trevor in Wales is known for its brick cutting, when your great grandfather Richard Jones first arrived in America he took the job as a stone cutter (POSSIBLE PAUSE) do you think the ability to work with your hands may have been passed down to allow you to be a surgeon today? How so?
Dad:That is very interesting I had no idea. I do know that Rowan County had lots of Quarries and men came from all over for work. I certainly think it could have, I do know that my grandfather used to have a watch and jewelry repair business so he definitely had to do things with his hands. The men and our family have always been very handy so that could be possible yes.
Me: He worked the majority of his life at Cannon Mills in Faith, Did you ever see Cannon Mills growing up?
Dad: Damn, I didn’t know that either. Really? Yes, Cannon Mills is in Cannapolis and my mothers side of the family all lived there which is essentially a town owned by the mill. So yea I passed by it all the time. That’s crazy. The textile business went away more recently but the owner of the mills is now trying to make the town a technological center.
Me: Do you think your great grandfather made a good decision of choosing Faith to be his new home?
Dad: Uh I mean I do but I’m obviously biased. I enjoyed growing up there so definitely yes.
Me: How was life growing up in Faith?
Dad: I mean I had a great childhood and teenage years, I loved it there. I didn’t know any different because I never went anywhere else but it was like growing up in your typical southern town. I did a lot of outdoor activities, went to the public school there, and made a lot of good friends.
Me: What was your favorite part about Faith?
Dad: I don’t know um… I guess I would have to say all my family and friends that I grew up with. I went to school and worked summers with a lot of great people. Winx barbecue was also a highlight.
Me: How does Faith stand out culturally, does the name represent this culture?
Dad: Yea I would say so, it was a typical southern bible belt type of town with a lot of churches, and I think growing up in that area of the south, faith is just part of your life, and we didn’t know any other way.
Me: Was listening to country music common in your home town?
Dad: Very
Me: Your family has stayed in Faith for 4 generations, how did having a large family sticking together in their hometown affect you as a person today?
Dad: I think it made me really appreciate the family relationships I had then and even more the relationships I have now. We certainly have gotten a little more spread out now, but we all have that common ground in Faith.
Me: Where did you meet mom?
Dad: There was this strip club in Faith and… that was not where I met her hahaha. We met at Lenoir Rhyne College, and she was actually dating a friend that I played football with. We didn’t start dating until our senior year.
Me: The name Richard has been passed down in our family for 5 generations, what does that name mean to you?
Dad: The king hahaha, well I didn’t know my great grandfather’s name was Richard until you told me. For me I’m proud to have that name because my dad had that name and he is no longer with us and that’s why we named you that.
Me: Did you feel any pressure being the 4th Richard Jones?
Dad: No not really. I never felt any pressure with it I was always happy to have the same name, but I always went by Richie growing up. My dad’s nickname was turkey with his friends so I was always little turkey, but when I got bigger than him I became big turkey and he became little turkey haha.
Me: Have you ever been known as or called Dick?
Dad: That was the only bad side of that name, um no I was never called that but my dad went by dick when he was in college. Sometimes we’d get calls to the house asking for Dick Jones and we’d know it was for dad.
Me: How do you view the men and women who serve our country?
Dad: Um I have a huge respect for them. The sacrifice that they make for our country. They oughta be paid more though. I couldn’t imagine doing some of the things the people in our military have to do and execute successfully.
Me: Your great grandfather served in World War 1, were you aware of this and were you told any stories of his time in the Great War?
Dad: I was not aware he was in World War 1 so unfortunately I do not know any stories of him. I might have to try to dig into that one a little further.
Me: Your grandfather served in World War 2, did you ever speak with him about his experiences in Europe?
Dad: Um, no he never liked to talk about it, especially with me because I was pretty young even when he died. I do know he was in the third army and that is about it.
Me: With your great grandfather in the First World War, your grandfather in World War II, and many uncles in the Vietnam War, what does military service mean to the Jones family?
Dad: Well I think it is something they are proud of, my family certainly has a lot of respect for the people that do it above all else.
Me: Country music as a genre is known for paying tribute and thanks to our soldiers, do you listen to these types of country songs often?
Dad: Not as much as you do, but I certainly do enjoy the patriotism and support of the troops and the themes of those country music songs. Other forms of music are constantly bashing our country and its nice to hear something in support of our country.
Me: What are some of the things you remember most about your dad?
Dad: Um probably one of the things I most remember is that he was one of the most easy going people you’ll ever meet. There is no one he wouldn’t get along with. He definitely lived his life to the fullest, he had a good balance in life. He worked hard and provided but he always had time for himself, his family, and his friends. He always had a great outlook on life.
Me: How did you view him as a child?
Dad: I mean he was always fun and I always enjoyed hanging out with dad. We would do a lot of things together, he’d throw the football with me, we’d play golf, go fishing. I don’t remember ever being scared of him, he wasn’t a scary figure to me even though he was the more disciplinary parent.
Me: What about his relationship with his father?
Dad: Um I think he had a decent relationship with him at first, but by the time he was getting into high school my grandfather began drinking a lot so my uncles did not have quite the same relationship.
Me: Did he ever speak to you about his relationship with his father?
Dad: Um briefly little small amounts here and there, just like what I said before like how when he was younger he had good memories with his dad. They worked together at the family hotel and once even dug a pool out by hand but as he got older and when his brothers were born he started drinking and going in and out of jail so they didn’t get that same relationship.
Me: Did you spend much time with your grandfather?
Dad: Not a whole lot, he died when I was six. I think he was drinking a lot back then and I don’t think my mother was a big fan of him. The only real memory I have is how scratchy his face was when he gave me a kiss once.
Me: How did country music play a role in the relationships between the three of you?
Dad: There really wasn’t any three of us relationship ever but I guess country music was something that we all had in common so we had that at least.
Me: Are there any modern country singers you like? Do singers today compare to the legends of your childhood?
Dad: Yes, I like Chris Stapleton because he has that old school sound to him. I like Tim Mcgraw and I am a big Zac Brown Fan because they have a lot of versatility and I am a fan of Brad Paisley because of his guitar playing. Eric Church kinda has that rebel feel to him like Johnny Cash or Hank Jr.
Me: If you could bring one deceased country artist back to life, who would it be?
Dad: There’s so many but hmm I’d have to say Johnny Cash.
Reflection
My perception of community history changed greatly during this interview. I lived in and visited the communities and towns of my family for all these years and never truly learned their stories until now. It’s very intriguing to dig deeper into the whereabouts of your family and the specifics of these communities.
At the beginning I felt like I was only doing it because I had to for the project. But as time went on I learned more and more about my family which then arose even more questions. This project gave me the push I needed to really dive in and discover the history of my family.
The main challenge I faced was finding the time to be able to conduct a thorough interview with both of our full attentions. Something I might could do differently in another family history project is set out a timeline and schedule for the whole project to manage time better.
I would like to pass on the tradition of country music. I hope that country music as a genre lives on forever and it will stay in our family as the long as the Jones family is still breathing.
Bibliography
Thernstrom, Stephan. Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1994.
“Rowan County (1753).” North Carolina History Project.
“The United States Officially Enters World War I.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Feb. 2010.
Ambrose, Stephen E. Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne : from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. Print.
“Dolly Parton and the Roots of Country Music.” Library of Congress.
“Prime Country, a Playlist by jonesconnor2002 on Spotify.” Spotify, open.spotify.com/user/jonesconnor2002/playlist/4IQkU2k1jh9M5NpWHOOknj?si=ebwXhA3TR8OGypRzrqwntQ.
