Gift Honors Donor's Soft Spot for Kids
Children's of Mississippi to use donation toward Batson Tower renovation
OXFORD, Miss. – The late Mike Jones had a giving spirit, but a lifelong struggle with substance abuse and homelessness meant the most he could offer friends and family was his charming personality. But six months before he died from congestive heart failure in May 2024, a healthy inheritance allowed the Bay Springs native to share in more tangible ways.
Besides helping members of his community, Jones gave $200,000 to support the Blair E. Batson Tower renovation project at Children's of Mississippi, the pediatric hospital at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
The hospital will recognize Jones' gift with a nurses' station named in his honor.
"Children's of Mississippi has been able to enhance the care provided to the state's children because of the continued support of private donations from generous benefactors like Mr. Jones," said Dr. Mary Taylor, the Suzan B. Thames Chair and professor of pediatrics. "His gift and others will enable Children's of Mississippi to continue to be a beacon of hope for our patients, families and providers."
Once renovations are complete, the four medical-surgical units in Batson Tower will match the facilities of the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower, which opened in 2020. The Batson Tower's first five floors opened in 1997; floors six and seven were added in 2004.
Additional support making this transformation possible includes a $1.5 million commitment from the Joseph C. Bancroft Charitable and Educational Fund, of McComb; another $1.5 million from Priscilla and David O'Donnell, of Ridgeland; and $1.5 million from Hogs for the Cause, a pediatric brain cancer nonprofit based in New Orleans. These donations are specifically earmarked for the renovation of medical-surgical units, each encompassing an entire floor of the Batson Tower.
Mike Jones earned a full scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi and attended for two years. Submitted photo
Joe McNeil, Jones' longtime friend from Bay Springs, his ultimate caregiver and executor of his estate, said his buddy would feel grateful that his gift is appreciated.
"He just had a great heart and loved kids," McNeil said. "There's a lot of kids here in town that went to Batson to get help, and he knew about that.
"He told me, 'You know, I ain't got a whole lot left, but I want to donate what I've got to Children's, so I can at least help some kids. I'll do something good, you know, before I leave this world.'"
Jones did more good than he knew. Even when he was sleeping under a bridge in New Orleans, he would share what he had with others. And, when he received his inheritance, his generosity grew exponentially.
For example, not long before he died, Jones asked McNeil to use some of his inheritance to buy him a Martin guitar, an instrument McNeil himself had often coveted.
"He said, 'I'm gonna learn to play the guitar like you before I leave this world,'" McNeil recalled.
He found his friend a 1972 Martin D-28 acoustic guitar and took it to him. A few days later, Jones took the guitar to McNeil's house and asked him to play it for him.
Mike Jones works out with his horse, Topal. An accomplished equestrian, Jones won many competitions with Topal. Submitted photo
"He loved hearing me play country music, Jimmy Buffett and especially John Prine," McNeil said. "I played about an hour. Then he got ready to leave and I said, 'Don't forget your guitar.'
"He said, 'That ain't mine; I got it for you. All you've done for me all these years … you deserve it.'"
Jones was captain of the debate team and valedictorian of the Bay Springs High School Class of 1969. He also was an accomplished equestrian who won many competitions with his American Quarter Horse, Topal.
After high school, he received a full scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi, where he completed two years. A member of First Baptist Church in Bay Springs, Jones was a voracious reader of Hemingway and other classics and had impressive knowledge about musical artists and specific songs.
"He didn't have any children; just always had a soft spot in his heart for kids," McNeil said. "He just wanted to do something to help them."
To support the University of Mississippi Medical Center, click here or contact Victoria Stein at 601-984-1135 or vstein1@umc.edu.
Top: Longtime friends Mike Jones (left) and Joe McNeil spend time together before Jones' death in May 2024. Jones left $200,000 for Children's of Mississippi and gave McNeil the Martin acoustic guitar on the couch. Submitted photo