DATE: Wednesday, May 14, 1997               TAG: 9705140438

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B11  EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: FRANKLIN                          LENGTH:   51 lines

ELIJAH N. JONES

Elijah Newman Jones, 86, died at 11:25 a.m. at Southampton Memorial Hospital on Monday, May 12, 1997, from complications of a stroke.

Mr. Jones is survived by two daughters, Susette S. Manley of Albany, N.Y., and Louise W. Jones of Austin, Texas; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael R. and Mary A. Jones of Old Greenwich, Conn.; a sister, Mary Rawles Jones Stevenson of Suffolk; a brother, Dr. Darden W. Jones of Franklin; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Elijah, son of the late Brock Darden and Selma Rawles Jones, was born on the family farm in the Holy Neck section of Holland, now Suffolk, Va. After earning a B.A. at Elon College and a M.Ed. from Duke University, he served as business manager from 1936 to 1941 for the Durham City Schools, Durham, N.C. From 1941 to 1946, he served as district security officer, 6th Naval District, Charleston, S.C. In 1946, Mr. Jones and his late wife, Jane Warren Jones, moved to Greenwich, Conn. While a Greenwich resident, he served on the education committee of the RTM and was an active member of the Belle Haven Beach Club, enjoying tennis, paddle tennis and sailing.

For business reasons, Elijah moved to Canada in 1966, where he introduced to that country the sport of paddle tennis. He built the first paddle tennis court in Canada on his estate in Toronto and was the founder of the Canadian Paddle Tennis Association. He became the paddle tennis champion of Canada (senior division). After his retirement from the securities industry in 1977, Elijah took up residence in Nevis, West Indies. He enjoyed the short summers of Canada and the long warm winters of the Caribbean.

Some of his many accomplishments include a distinguished 28-year Wall Street career, beginning at Merrill Lynch (1946-1954), then to Francis I. DuPont & Co. (1954-1970) and concluding at Laidlaw & Co. Inc. (1970-1974); designer, builder and co-founder of a ``championship'' 18 hole golf course located near Montebello, Quebec, Canada (a project he began at age 79); and designer, builder and founder of an executive golf course and club in Nevis. Elijah also authored ``A Guide to Better Salesmanship'' and ``Golf Made Easy,'' both the result of his extensive knowledge relating to his two favorite activities. He was a founding shareholder of CUC Broadcasting Co. of Canada, which became the third largest cable television company in Canada.

A graveside service will be conducted in the cemetery at Holy Neck United Church of Christ, Suffolk, at 9 a.m. Saturday by the Rev. John G. Truitt Jr. The family will receive friends at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Darden W. Jones, 716 W. Second Ave., Franklin.

Memorial donations may be made to the Southampton Agriculture and Forestry Museum, c/o Lynda Updike, 33335 Statesville Road, Newsoms, Va. 23874; the Holy Neck United Church of Christ, c/o James C. Copeland, 2480 Box Elder Road, Suffolk, Va. 23437 or to a favorite charity. Wright Funeral Home is handling arrangements. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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