Bernard Edward Jones of South Chesterfield, Virginia, entered eternal rest on May 4, 2026. He was born on February 25, 1958, in St. Augustine, Florida, and was the eldest of three children born to the late Bernard Leon and Mildred Mercer Jones.

Bernard moved with his family from Florida to Ettrick, Virginia, during his elementary school years. Known affectionately as "Edward" by his family, he was energetic, curious, and always eager to understand how things worked. He often took apart radios, televisions, and other small appliances, then challenged himself to put them back together again. More often than not, he succeeded.

His love of learning continued throughout his life. Bernard graduated from Matoaca High School in 1976 and went on to attend the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He continued taking post graduate classes on topics he found interesting whenever he had time.

Bernard's years at the University of Tennessee shaped him in meaningful ways. During that time, he converted to Catholicism, and his faith became a central part of his life. He was active in campus ministry, deepened his religious beliefs, and formed many lifelong friendships. At the time of his passing, he was a faithful member of St. Ann Catholic Church.

His time at Tennessee also sparked a lasting love of SEC football. Although he had been a basketball enthusiast throughout middle and high school, he became a passionate supporter of Tennessee football and proudly wore or displayed Tennessee Vols gear whenever he could.

While Bernard worked in a variety of industries throughout his life, teaching was his true passion. He taught mathematics at Virginia Commonwealth University and Richard Bland College, and he also spent evenings and weekends privately tutoring students. He took immense pride in helping others understand difficult concepts and in seeing his students grow in confidence and achievement. In recent years, Bernard returned to his mechanical roots and worked as an associate at Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Bernard was a caretaker at heart with an adventurous spirit. He liked helping people, traveling, trying new foods, and exploring different sports. But of all his roles and responsibilities, he was most proud to have served as a devoted caregiver for his father during his final years.

He will be deeply missed by his family, co-workers, and friends. He is survived by his two sisters, Patricia Jones of South Chesterfield and Annette Moore (Jerry) of Fairfax, Virginia; his two nephews, Lincoln Moore of Verona, Wisconsin, and Evan Moore of Atlanta, Georgia; and a host of other close relatives and friends.

Services will be held 11:00 A.M., Saturday, May 23, 2026, at St. Ann Catholic Church, 17111 Route 1, South Chesterfield, VA. The interment to follow at Dinwiddie Memorial Park.

A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you consider making a donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in Bernard's memory.  If you'd like to make a gift by check, please send it to: Prostate Cancer Foundation National Processing Center, P.O. Box 7015 Albert Lea, MN 56007-9974 or you may click the online link www.pcf.org/bernard-jones. Your gift will support prostate cancer research and help bring hope through new and improved treatment options.

J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com. Watch the funeral services live online on our J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc. Facebook page or click here to view: https://vimeo.com/event/5950892?fl=so&fe=fs