This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Justin Jones, who was born in Tampa, Florida on June 21, 1986, and passed away on June 03, 2006, at the age of 19.  We will love and remember him forever. . .

Please vote for Justin's site at :

http://usa.ultimatetopsites.com/bin/topsite.cgi?teenangels&cat=general&ID=245

Justin's new nephew, who was named after him!  
Born December 6, 2007
7 pounds, 8 oz, 20 inches

MY SON LIVES IN PARADISE 

The dust has settled on the things
That I have stored away
A favorite toy, for little boy
A jar of dried out clay. 

A photograph when you were young
Sits quietly on the shelf
Thoughts of you come drifting back
I just can’t help myself.
 
A drawing that you made for me
When you were very small
Is framed within this heart of mine
And hangs upon the wall.
 
A scrapbook lies within the room
Where you once laid your head
Your favorite book, a model car
The pillow on your bed. 

I miss you coming in from school
“Hey mom, it’s me, I’m home”
I miss the little words and hugs
The special times we’ve known. 

A part of me just disappeared
The day you went away
An empty space now fills my heart
There are no words to say. 

A closet filled with memories
Of happy days gone by
A baseball cap and souvenir
Why did you have to die? 

The trophies that you won at school
Stand proudly on display
Your many friends can’t understand
Why God called you away. 

I hear your voice within the halls
It echoes in the night
I see you in the evening mist
And in the morning light. 

So many things you left behind
Are now a memory
But little arms that held me tight
Will always stay with me. 

An empty space now fills my heart
My boy, my child, my son
You’ve gone into another world
Where golden dreams are spun.
 
I do not know the answers
It‘s not for me to know
But I will know the truth one day
Just why you had to go. 

My turn will come to leave this world
I’ll gaze into your eyes
God’s perfect plan will be revealed
Up there in paradise. 

Author/Written By:
©2005 Marilyn Ferguson
http://www.marilynspoetry.com/ 

Justin was born in Tampa, FL, but grew up in the wonderful little town of Marianna, FL. He weighed a whopping 10 lbs. and 7 oz. when he was born, but you would never know to look at him - he was 6'1" and weighed about 160 lbs.


Justin grew up loving sports. He played nearly every sport in school, but football was his favorite. He was never afraid of doing the hitting or being hit.

Justin graduated from Marianna High School in May, 2004
                     

That same month, he and his girlfriend, Kim, became the parents of a beautiful baby girl, Madison. She looks just like him when he was small - curly hair and all. He loved that little girl more than anything. She had just turned two when he died. He loved her so much and was so proud of her. He loved playing with her and was a wonderful daddy. 

He has a sister, Ashley, with whom he was very close. He loved aggravating and picking at her, but they were the best of friends.  She misses him terribly....

He also had three very special cousins - Adam, Josh and Andrew, who were more like his brothers. They were all so close and there was never a dull moment when the four of them were together! There are so many fond memories of all those boys growing up together. 

Justin was an avid University of Florida Gator fan.  Before he died in June, he was already talking about the upcoming football season.  I know he was watching from heaven as the Gators won the National Championship in football and then won the National Championship in basketball for the 2nd year in a row!!

Sometime during high school, he started experimenting with drugs, mostly marijuana and cocaine.  He became a completely different person during that time.  He didn't want to work or go to school - just wanted to hang with his "friends".  A little over a year ago, he was arrested for possession of marijuana and spent 3 months in jail.  During that time he kept a journal and he stated throughout the journal that he wanted to straighten out his life, live for God and be a good Daddy to his little girl.  He came out of jail determined and did well for several months.  But slowly he started using again and began selling drugs.  I believe  Justin was more addicted to the "easy and fast" money that he made, more than the actual drugs.  He once told me that he would NEVER go back to jail.  The night he died the police had stopped him.  His friend was driving because Justin had been drinking.  He had a little baggie of cocaine on him that he was on the way to sell.  He swallowed the cocaine so the police wouldn't catch him with the cocaine.  Within minutes, he was having seizures and was pronounced dead about a hour and a half later.  I guess he was really serious about not going back to jail....

I pray that Justin's life will be used as a lesson for others; that others learn that drugs are not the answer. Being addicted to the "easy money" is just as deadly as being addicted to cocaine. Justin had accepted Jesus as his personal Savior when he was 10 years old. Many times Justin and I would talk about his lifestyle and he said he knew God was dealing with him and he knew he needed to stop, but he just wasn't ready. I know that God has forgiven Justin and Justin is in heaven. I pray that others who are going through the same battles and fighting the same demons he fought realize how one bad decision can effect so many innocent lives. Please realize that drugs are not the answer and Jesus Christ can give you that "high" and that peace you are so desparatley searching for. I know Justin's struggles are over and he is now at peace .....

He was so friendly, popular and well-liked. He had almost 500 people attend his funeral service, probably half of them were kids his age. We all love and miss him so, so much. 

Always on the phone....




Homecoming, 2003 - Tacky Day

Justin at the football stadium

HE ONLY TOOK MY HAND

Last night while I was trying to sleep,
My son's voice I did hear
I opened my eyes and looked around
But he did not appear.

He said "Mom you've got to listen,
You've got to understand
God didn't take me from you, Mom
He only took my hand

When I called out in pain that night,
The instant that I died,
He reached down and took my hand,
And pulled me to his side.

He pulled me up and saved me
From the misery and pain
My body was hurt so badly inside,
I could never be the same.

My search is really over now,
I've found happiness within,
All the answers to my empty dreams
And all that might have been.

I love you and miss you so,
And I'll always be nearby.
My body's gone forever,
But my spirit will never die!

And so, you must go on now,
Live one day at a time.
Just understand-
God did not take me from you,
He only took my hand.
(unknown)