After living the single life for 24 years, 73-year-old Gerald M. Jones, with his positive attitude, met Francis, a sweet, old-fashioned South Georgia Southern lady, and he has not let go of her after eight years of marriage.

“I grew up in Doerun, Georgia, but moved to Atlanta and was employed there most of all my life. I retired from the American Red Cross after 25 years,” he said with a smile describing his position with the company.

“After I graduated from Smith-Hughes Vocational School, I starting working with various companies and eventually started working with the Red Cross as the printing operations supervisor,” he said.

Leaning back casually in his recliner, grinning big with his pipe jutting out the side of his mouth, he describes his years growing up as the only child.

“My mother always, I think, felt guilty because I was born with a birth defect which left scars on the back of my eyes. I am legally blind. They say it was because my mother suffered with high blood pressure during her pregnancy. Back then, no one knew anything about these types of defects and did not know anything about correcting it,” he said.

“The best way to describe it is like pictures of the moon. The moon has spots, places which are low spots and these spots dip into the moon’s surface. My cornea developed in sheets. In some cases, mine did not develop,” he said.

Frances gazes at her distinguished looking husband as she jokes, “I tell everybody, If he could see me, he would not have never married me,” she said with a giggle.

But the prior statement is far from the truth. Jones said he never took his eyes off of Frances or stopped visiting her once she moved to Atlanta from Americus.

“My children wanted me to move to a retirement home after my husband passed away,” Frances said.

“I worked in security at Campbell Stone Apartments, a complex in Buckhead,” Gerald said explaining he had acquired a part-time job after retirement and, jokingly, said his position with the complex allowed him to catch the first glimpse of new females arriving.

“No, I think it was the right time. I had been single a long time. I am rather religious. I have always felt God had a reason for me being single and he would provide the right time to meet someone special. I had asked for the right companion with just the right personality,” he said.

Jones said he was able to meet Frances’ children on move-in day and many days afterwards everyone at the complex thought there was something wrong at her apartment because of the many visits.

After Frances swept him off his feet, the couple decided to move to Americus, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. They moved into Magnolia Manor Apartments, and although they enjoyed the Manor living, they decided to purchase their own home because they wished to keep their dog, Fugimoto.

Today, Jones, because he is not allowed to drive himself, enjoys being chauffeured by Frances on their many excursions. He also enjoys tinkering with small printing machines. According to Frances, if Jones had his way, he would have a printing press in his back yard.

Jones said he also enjoys his pipe, which he picked up 30 years ago.