Newspaper Page Text
Page 6A
- Wednesday, Aug. 16,1995, Houston Times-Journal
Experiencing Death
Perryan Bobby Jones meets death, returns to tell about it
By Jj JOHNSON
Times-Journal Editor
Perry native Bobby Jones believes that dur
ing a 64-day hospitalization two years ago, he
experienced a near-death experience.
During a speech to members of the Perry
Rotary Club Aug. 14, Jones described events
during his hospitalization which cause him to
believe he may have left his body briefly.
He said he was returned to earth to share the
experience with others. “I believe God wants
me to share this story of how I was allowed to
live,” Jones said.
Citing scripture, Jones said that like Jonah
who experienced a second chance by living in
a whale for three days, he had been given a sec
ond chance to tell others about God.
The experience began March 16, 1993 when
Jones took a physical examination. Dr. Bruce
Sampson discovered a problem during a rou
tine stress test and told Jones to report for fur
ther testing to the Medical Center of Central
Georgia in Macon.
Despite the protests of his wife and doctor,
Jones completed a business trip to Atlanta
before going for the test.
At the Medical Center, doctors performed a
catheritization and determined there was a 90
percent blockage of Jones’ main artery. They
attempted a reaming process to open the artery,
but the artery collapsed.
"They then attempted angioplasty, but the
balloon collapsed. Without ever bringing me to
consciousness, they proceeded with bypass
surgery,” Jones recalled.
Thus began 64 days of hospitalization.
Jones spent 59 of those days in the intensive
care unit. He lived with the aid of a ventilator
eight weeks, something doctors usually attempt
to use no more than 3-4 days.
Almost two weeks after the surgery, Jones
developed a new problem difficulty breathing.
Adult Respiratory Stress Syndrome was causing
him serious problems. He had double pneumonia
and suffered with congestive heart failure.
It was then that the near-death experience
occurred.
"My condition worsened. They called my
Walker-led panel to study horse racing at Agricenter
From Staff Reports
Ga. Rep. Larry Walker, D-
Pcrry, will head a study committee
which will look into the possibili
ty of horse racing at the Georgia
Fairgrounds and Agricenter.
Walker told the Georgia
Agricultural Exposition Authority
members during their Aug. 9
meeting that House Speaker Tom
Murphy had appointed him chair
man of the committee.
“We will be looking into the
Times-Journal photo by Emily Johnstone
THIS IS A TEST Several local agencies, along with area ROTC students, participated in
a disaster drill held Aug. 14 at Houston County High School. The scenario for the drill was a
lightening strike during a baseball game. ’’Spectators” on metal bleachers were struck, caus
ing injuries and fatalities. “This type of disaster is not that uncommon,” said Jim Flaviani,
HEMA public relations volunteer. Agencies involved in the drill included: Houston County
Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services, county fire departments,
Houston County Sheriff’s Dept, and Perry Hospital and others.
Kellie Wright
Christopher Lamb
9-2-95
Kelley Bennett
Bill Campbell
9-9-95
Leigh Perdue
Joey Brett
9-9-95
Suzanne Blythe
Michael Cowan
' 9-16-95
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905 Carrol! Street • Perry, GA • 987-1392
Monday - Friday 9-6 Saturday 9 - 4
A Tradition of Quality and Service
wife to come to the hospital. They had me on a
pacemaker, they did everything but give me
CPR,” Jones told the Rotarians.
"All of a sudden, I had the sensation of leav
ing my body. I entered into a black tunnel. At
the far end, I could see a very bright light. I
moved quickly through the tunnel to the light,"
Jones recalled.
"When I reached the light, I had an incredi
ble sense of peace," Jones said. He likened the
feeling to that he got when he would visit his
Grandmother Lassiter as a young child grow
ing up in Perry.
“I did not want to leave my family. I knew
that when I died. I expected to go to a better
place,” Jones, a member of Perry United
Methodist Church since 1947, said.
Jones said as he headed back into the tunnel,
he believes he heard a voice which told him it
was not his time yet, to return to his family.
“I suddenly was back in the hospital bed. I
knew from this experience that I would not die
in the hospital, that there was something else
for me to do,” Jones said.
The struggle to live continued. A few days
later, with his lung condition little better, doc
tors discovered a white mass in his lungs. They
performed a test to determine the problem. The
doctors believed from the appearance of the
material that Jones had lung cancer.
Jones had begun the physical examination
because he wanted to help his sister, a Fort
Valley resident. She was waiting for a bone
marrow transplant in her fight with leukemia.
"She left the hospital and went to her church
(St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Fort Valley)
to pray. I was very sick and she needed help,
too,” Jones recalled.
He reported his sister found a special sense
of peace as light passed through a stained glass
window at the church.
Two days later, a doctor came in to see Jones
and told the family the white coating was gone
from Jones’ lungs. “It is a miracle,” the doctor
told the family.
When Jones emerged from the hospital after
64 days of treatment, he left the hospital with
Riley Hunt, a long-time friend of his, and a
feasibility of having a horse racing
facility during the reapportion
ment session,” Walker said. The
session opened Aug. 14.
The 10-member panel is
expected to report findings on
whether construction ol a facility
to showcase race horses is a need
ed addition to the Agricenter. The
report will be made to the 1996
session of the General Assembly.
This will not involve pari
mutuel betting, Walker said.
Carol McMahan
Jeff Hoylman
9-30-95
“I want to state emphatically that
we are not considering pari-mutuel
betting. What we are talking about
are the agricultural, livestock, recre
ational and tourism aspects of rac
ing exhibitions at the center.”
The state lawmaker asked
board members if they feel such a
venture would succeed.
“I don't think so without bet
ting,” said Ralph Collins. “I don’t
see how you could be very suc
cessful.”
Alison McLaine
Shannon Smith
10-7-95
Wendi Schofill
Lee Peacock
10-
Sally Pearson
Jim Kinman
11-
Stephanie Byrd
Tracy Green
12-
*
X ip l
BOBBY JONES
Tells Of Near Death Experience
local mortician.
When the men reached Hunt’s automobile,
Jones quipped to Hunt, “I surely am glad to be
leaving with you, but I certainly am glad I’m
not leaving in your hearse!”
Jones said he left the hospital 55 pounds
lighter and with only 10 percent of his lung
capacity. He has since regained his health and
has returned to his career as an insurance sales
man.
He also occasionally returns to the golf
course which has provided him with so much
enjoyment during his life. Jones was a member
of one of the several state championship golf
teams under Eric Staples.
“I learned a lot. I got my priorities of God,
family and friends in order. I share my testimo
ny with anyone who asks and I have spoken to
many people about living,” Jones said.
“I don’t understand many things such as
why bad things happen to good people, or why
God chose me to live while others didn’t. I go
back to my faith to get through all of this. I
know I could no; survive without faith and
hope,” he said.
Most members said they would
not be against allowing horse racing.
Board member Foster Rhodes
of Perry would not comment on
the issue.
Some members said some neg
ative reaction could come from the
community about horse racing,
often associated with gambling.
According to legislation call
ing for the study, “The Georgia
Agricultural Exposition Center in
Houston County was created to
provide, among other things,
facilities for events which pro
mote the state’s agricultural and
livestock industries.”
The measure continues, “The
sport of horse racing is a highly
popular activity which not only
can provide entertainment to
many spectators and participants
but also may stimulate and con
tribute to the growth and develop
ment of the agricultural, live
stock, recreational and tourism
sectors of the state’s economy.”
The nearest horse racing facility
is in Hawkinsville where promot
ers stage one or two harness races
each spring. Many harness horse
owners spend the winters in
Hawkinsville training for the sum
mer harness season in the midwest.
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INVITATION TO BID
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The Department of Natural Resources is soliciting potential bidders for
the custom planting of wildlife food plots on Oaky Woods (Houston
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should contact the Game Management Office in Fort Vatley (912/825-
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