Rea Jones a man of integrity

To the editor,
My wife and I are now full-time grandparents and we enjoy extended visits with children and grandchildren at distant locations. We keep up with Orange County by reading back issues of the Orange County Review when we return.
This week I read the May 14 letter from Becky and Marc Hofmann criticizing District 1 Supervisor Mark Johnson and former supervisor Rea Jones. To put it mildly, the letter irritated me a great deal.
I don't know the Hofmann couple, but I am sure they are good, law abiding citizens. I defend their right to disagree with Johnson's supervisor decisions, but I find their remarks about Rea Jones distasteful and completely false. It is obvious that the Hofmanns do not know Rea Jones and his long record of service to the people of Orange County.
I don't know how many generations the Rea Jones family has lived in the Thornhill section of Orange County; probably six or eight. They farmed and ran a general store on Route 522 for many, many years. They were church and community leaders there. They were loved by everyone.
Rea's father sponsored a community adult baseball team titled "Ranny Jones Store" and my older brother played first string on the squad 75 years ago. I was younger and only a substitute pinch hitter and a batboy.
I knew Rea when he was a high school student driving a public school bus. He graduated from VPI (now Virginia Tech) with honors in his agricultural studies. He was in the military corps at VPI and served a tour of duty with distinction. He returned to Orange County and took over his father's farming operations but kept his military rank by joining the Virginia National Guard.
While continuing to farm, Rea continued his association with "The Guard" in Richmond for several decades and retired with the rank of general.
Back in Orange County he became active with numerous community services: Pamunkey Baptist Church, PTA, Farm Bureau, economic development corporation, planning commission, Rapidan Service Authority, North Anna Lake Association, etc; and of utmost importance, the Orange County Board of Supervisors. He retired from the latter after serving his final term as its chairman.
I was fortunate to have served two terms with Rea on the board of supervisors. He was always thorough, did his homework, never made a decision without thinking it through and checking with his constituents. Never did I find him casting a vote that benefitted him personally. He was dedicated to the youth of Orange County and voted for some tough motions concerning education.
Rea continued to serve with Mark Johnson after I left the board of supervisors. If Rea says that he believes Johnson is good for Orange County, then I do also.
Duff Green
Orange