Jamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
Murphy Jones of Sissy’s Log Cabin Dies at 81
He served as the retailer’s secretary and treasurer, and loved spending time outdoors and being with his family.
William Murphy Jones Jr. was born Jan. 11, 1936 to William Murphy Jones Sr. and Dorris Nolley Jones in Hamburg, Arkansas.
He graduated from Hamburg High School in 1954, according to an online obituary, and also was an Eagle Scout, a member of the Order of The Arrow and attended a Junior Conservation Camp to learn about fishing, hunting and living outdoors.
He college education started when he entered into a co-op program with Georgia Tech, in which he would work three months at Crossett Paper Mill in Arkansas and go to school for three months.
Jones married Marguerite “Sissy” Robinson in 1957. They had two children Mary Virginia (Ginger) Jones Cheatham and William (Bill) Murphy Jones III.
In January 1958, shortly after marriage, Murphy and Sissy moved to Atlanta, where he finished his degree at Georgia Tech.
He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and obtained his electrical engineering degree with honors, accepting a job with AP&L, which later became Middle South Services (Entergy), in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
While he was at Entergy, he worked as an electrical engineer for the distribution company ESCOM in Johannesburg, South Africa, for five years.
When he returned to Arkansas, he rejoined the family business, Sissy’s Log Cabin, as its secretary and treasurer, becoming an important part of the company’s advertising and marketing team as the store expanded.
Jones was past president of the Arkansas Antiques Association, an active member of various jewelry associations and a member of Lakeside United Methodist Church for more than five decades, where he served on the board of trustees.
He also was a previous board member of the Salvation Army, Kiwanis and Rotary Club, a longtime sponsor of Babe Ruth Baseball league at Taylor Field and sponsored the Torii Hunter Baseball Foundation Scholarship at UAPB in Pine Bluff.
He loved nature and the outdoors--including hunting and fishing at the Split River hunting club--and spending time on his back patio watching and feeding birds and tending to his flowers.
Most of all, he cherished his family and loved life and people.
Jones was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.
He is survived by his wife, Sissy; daughter, Mary Virginia Cheatham; and son, William M. Jones, III; brother, Barry Crisman “Cris” Jones; two sisters, Charlotte Virginia McKiever and Angela Nolley Shelton; and his nine grandchildren.
The family asks that anyone who would like to leave a memorial consider donating to Lakeside United Methodist Church at 1500 South Olive, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 71601; the Salvation Army; or the baseball program at Taylor Field, P.O. Box 6654, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71611.
Condolences can be shared on Jones’s online memorial page.
The Latest
In the spirit of giving, Retrouvaí will donate $4,000 from the sale of this ring to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Along with the latest “Gardens” collection, the brand has released limited-edition designs offering more indulgent pieces.
‘Forever Present’ campaign revives the iconic A Diamond is Forever tagline and celebrates the diamond dream.
The man and woman are accused of stealing jewelry from a shipping container then trying to flee by paddling a small boat out into a bay.
The 2,488-carat diamond recovered from a mine in Botswana has been dubbed “Motswedi” while its 1,094-carat sibling is “Seriti.”
The average price per carat hit a record high for the miner, which said it remains unaffected by the conflict in Mozambique.
For over a century, Jewelers of America has been the voice of the industry and valuable resource to jewelers across the country.
The nearly 17-carat stone made history for the color-change gem that, according to the auction house, is experiencing a “notable surge” in the market.
More than a century after survivors gifted a Tiffany timepiece to the captain of the ship that rescued them, the jeweler has reclaimed it.
The videos highlight how pieces from the “Xpandable” and “Reversible Xpandable” collections put the wearer in the spotlight.
The luxury brand is being honored for excellence in high jewelry design in its “Haute Joaillerie Sport” collection.
Circelli was a pioneer in the world of TV shopping who is remembered for his passion for gemstones and his big personality.
The nearly 6-carat stone headlined the recent jewelry auction, which also featured Mica Ertegun’s jewelry.
The three men, who got their nickname because they’d toss the jewelry they stole into black plastic bins, were arrested back in August.
“The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance” is a 128-page small-format book containing more than 165 images.
Gearys opened a 6,200-square-foot Rolex store with a design that pays homage to the brand’s connection to the ocean.
The diamond cut grade is now available for marquise- and pear-shaped diamonds.
DDG said the honorees’ business practices embody a commitment to positive social impact, industry innovation, and community empowerment.
Estimates on the size and value of the solitaire diamond, which is mounted on a diamond pavé-set yellow gold band, vary.
These half-moon tanzanite earrings totaling 25 carats are part of a special trunk show taking place this weekend in Dallas.
The National Jeweler editors recap the top news, the best jewels, and their favorite stories of the year.
The highest-grossing lot of the sale was the retired QB’s Rolex Paul Newman Daytona “John Player Special.”
Recent expansion initiatives at the Zambian emerald mine have shown strong production numbers, said Grizzly founder Abdoulaye Ndiaye.
Carrie Forman joins the brand to guide it into the next phase of growth with major and independent retailers in the U.S. and abroad.
The competition awarded 12 designers, each from a country where De Beers recovers diamonds, with business support and tuition assistance.
The high jewelry collection features 14 one-of-a-kind pieces, with serpent and ribbon motifs winding their way through the collection.