By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY – Friends are mourning the loss of Chris Jones, co-owner of the Blue Vine, who died this morning at an area hospital.
Jones, 55, suffered heart failure and had been at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center since Sept. 19.
He co-owned the retail wine shop with wife, Rose Meeks Jones. The couple opened the business in 2006. It have been a venue for live music featuring local musicians, who staged a fundraiser for Chris and Rose Jones on Oct. 5-6. (See story, http://www.salisburypost.com/News/092812-Blue-Vine-health-crisis)
Rose Jones posted on the social media networking site Facebook, telling friends and family of her husband’s death. “There will be good cookin’ and bluegrass in heaven tonight to celebrate the newest arrival. Christopher Dwayne Jones 4/21/57-10/19/12.” She had posted daily updates about his condition since he was hospitalized.
“The community just lost an angel. He was great,” said friend Linda Thompson.
Thompson, who has volunteered to help at the shop at 209 S. Main St., was there Friday along with employee Vanessa Martin.
In the mornings it wasn’t odd to see Jones seated at a table in front of the shop, reading a paper and watching cars go past. A group of balloons marked the table in his memory.
The Meroney Theater marquee reads “Chris Jones 1957-2012.”
Chris Jones has been a longtime restaurateur in and around Salisbury and a musician, appearing in several Piedmont Players productions and performing with bands.
The Blue Vine will be open tonight, with Dale Mills and Jeff Michael and friends, as a tribute to Chris Jones’ love of bluegrass.
See a future edition of the Salisbury Post for more information.