Briggs Howard Jones

Briggs Howard Jones, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army retired, beloved husband of the late Elizabeth (Betty) Lenhardt Jones and resident of Wexford, Hilton Head Island, SC died on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at home.

The son of the late Otto Briggs and Mary Pitchford Jones, he was born on July 7, 1927, in Byhalia, MS. He graduated from Georgia Military Academy in College Park, GA in 1945 and attended the University of Mississippi where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Later that year he enlisted in the Army subsequently entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in July 1946. He graduated from West Point in June 1950 receiving a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was awarded a Master of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1959. Overseas assignments included Germany, Korea and Vietnam. Assignments within the continental US were at Ft. Hood, TX, Ft. Bragg, NC, Ft. Knox, KY, Ft. Meade, MD, Ft. Leavenworth, KS and Washington, DC.

He retired from the Army in 1972 and then was employed by Chrysler Defense (later to become General Dynamics Land Systems) in the Detroit, Michigan area. In 1992 he retired from General Dynamics but was asked to remain as a consultant for National Guard activities. He served in that capacity until 1996 when he retired once again, moving permanently to Hilton Head in 1997 where he and his family had vacationed for many years. He was an active member of the Providence Presbyterian Church serving as an Elder. Prior to his move to Hilton Head, he served as an Elder and member of the Board of Trustees of Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield Hills, MI. He was an avid tennis player. He is survived by a son Howard Lenhardt Jones (Marianne) of Jamesburg, NJ, a daughter Catherine Schmidt (Bill) of Midlothian, VA and his grandchildren, Daniel Jones, Caleb Jones, Sterling Schmidt and Brooks Schmidt. He was predeceased by sisters Erin Jones of Memphis, TN in 2006 and Lidie Peery (Bob) of Hilton Head Island, SC in 2023.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 4 at 3:00pm, Providence Presbyterian Church, 171 Cordillo Parkway on Hilton Head Island. A private interment will be held at Beaufort National Cemetery.

The family respectfully requests, with much appreciation, that in lieu of flowers any memorial contributions be made to Providence Presbyterian Church, 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.