Chef, Restaurant Owner Killed On Bicycle
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The employees and regular customers of a Southside restaurant are mourning Johnnie Jones, who died Wednesday night after he was struck crossing Atlantic Boulevard on his bicycle. Jones, 52, the executive chef and owner of Genesis Cafe on Old Kings Road, died after he was hit by a pickup truck about 8 p.m. near the intersection of Holmesdale Road in St. Nicholas.
Jones was taken to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Police announced Thursday morning that he died.
Police said Jones pulled out from the median in front of an oncoming pickup truck. Investigators said the pickup had a green light and did not have enough time to avoid hitting Jones.
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Detectives said there was no indication that either the driver or the bicyclist involved was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Police said because the driver of the pickup truck had the right of way, he would not be charged.
"I thought it was a nightmare. It just doesn?t seem real," said Jones' longtime friend Sam Wilson.
Wilson has worked side by side with Jones for decades. He said he has known Johns since fourth grade.
"I can't even explain how I feel. I know I can't explain how anybody else is feeling. It's unbelievable. This couldn't happened -- not to J.J.," Wilson said.
"Anytime a family member or friend is ripped away from you through death, no, it doesn?t make sense. I don't think you can rationalize it," said Jones' friend Carrie Davis.
His friends said Jones' lifelong dream was to own a restaurant, and he got that opportunity five years ago. Although Jones did not have any children, his friends said his restaurant was his baby and he made sure every order that came from the kitchen was nothing short of perfect.
"So often, you have individuals who just say, 'I want to cook.' But, for him it was an art. It was just, 'I want to cook really well.' It was, 'I want to cook really well and I want it to be very pretty,'" Davis said.
In addition to owning the Southside cafe, Jones was chairman of the board of the American Culinary Federation's First Coast chapter. He was named Chef of the Year in 2004 and received a silver and bronze medal during 2003 cooking competitions. He also served on the culinary advisory board for the Frank H. Peterson Academy and the Art Institute of Jacksonville's culinary department.
Jones was deacon at St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church and chaplain of the American Legion Post 244.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Sarah Carter Funeral Home. Details for services have not been finalized.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The employees and regular customers of a Southside restaurant are mourning Johnnie Jones, who died Wednesday night after he was struck crossing Atlantic Boulevard on his bicycle. Jones, 52, the executive chef and owner of Genesis Cafe on Old Kings Road, died after he was hit by a pickup truck about 8 p.m. near the intersection of Holmesdale Road in St. Nicholas.
Jones was taken to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Police announced Thursday morning that he died.
Police said Jones pulled out from the median in front of an oncoming pickup truck. Investigators said the pickup had a green light and did not have enough time to avoid hitting Jones.
Story continues below ↓
Detectives said there was no indication that either the driver or the bicyclist involved was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Police said because the driver of the pickup truck had the right of way, he would not be charged.
"I thought it was a nightmare. It just doesn?t seem real," said Jones' longtime friend Sam Wilson.
Wilson has worked side by side with Jones for decades. He said he has known Johns since fourth grade.
"I can't even explain how I feel. I know I can't explain how anybody else is feeling. It's unbelievable. This couldn't happened -- not to J.J.," Wilson said.
"Anytime a family member or friend is ripped away from you through death, no, it doesn?t make sense. I don't think you can rationalize it," said Jones' friend Carrie Davis.
His friends said Jones' lifelong dream was to own a restaurant, and he got that opportunity five years ago. Although Jones did not have any children, his friends said his restaurant was his baby and he made sure every order that came from the kitchen was nothing short of perfect.
"So often, you have individuals who just say, 'I want to cook.' But, for him it was an art. It was just, 'I want to cook really well.' It was, 'I want to cook really well and I want it to be very pretty,'" Davis said.
In addition to owning the Southside cafe, Jones was chairman of the board of the American Culinary Federation's First Coast chapter. He was named Chef of the Year in 2004 and received a silver and bronze medal during 2003 cooking competitions. He also served on the culinary advisory board for the Frank H. Peterson Academy and the Art Institute of Jacksonville's culinary department.
Jones was deacon at St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church and chaplain of the American Legion Post 244.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Sarah Carter Funeral Home. Details for services have not been finalized.
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