Remembering Lincoln Jones: A Legacy of Friendship

Lincoln Jones was a national treasure in the Bahamas. A husband, a father, and a friend to so many. A true man of the sea, even at 78, it was not uncommon to see him motoring away from New Plymouth mid-morning, all by himself, on his way out to catch a few fish and enjoy the Abaco waters that he loved so deeply. It was a great source of pride to me that Lincoln even knew my name, much less called me his friend.

The Perfect Day, to me, was a morning spearfishing with Lincoln and my family, with an afternoon picnic. “Couple hoggies down there,” he’d quietly proclaim as he pointed a well-worked finger toward a coral head hidden in the Spanish Cay grass. Over we’d go, Genevieve in the lead, and correct he’d be. We’d chase the fish all morning, running coral head to coral head. “Whatchu see?” “Nobody home?” “Any crawfish?” “Lane snappers? Any size to ’em” “Villie, this that spot where you and Marcus get that big rockfish?” “Any yellatail?”

You had to watch the boat when Lincoln was behind the wheel or you’d bang your head on the way up. He always kept it close when we were spearfishing, distinctly aware of the constant presence of sharks. Depite his best efforts, our family eventually earned the title of his only shark bite when my father-in-law, Steve Cutbirth, took a bite to the face and leg.

We had a thousand adventures. I am grateful for each one.

There’s so much I could say about Lincoln. It’s shocking to me that he’s gone. It’s shocking to me that we had the distinct honor of spending his last week with him, spearing, picnicking, and going to Cheeseburger in Paradise Fiddle Cay Event. It’s shocking to me that I got to be with him as he left this world, working alongside a medical team who gave him every single thing they could to save his life. True angels on Earth, tears streamed down their faces as we worked on him. Nurse Hudson, Nurse Rolle, Doctor Wakine, and the second doctor whose name I did not catch, you have my lifelong admiration for how hard you fought for our friend. Lincoln was so unbelievably cherished.

I held his hand, prayed with him, and blessed his body as I heard my brother Tim, always a rock when you need him, drive off in his golf cart to bring Lincoln’s wife Ruthie to the clinic so that Doctor Wakine could share the devastating news with his family.

I’ve always said that the ride on the ferry to GTC is my favorite boat ride of the year. Right now, it feels to me like the next one will be the saddest of my life, knowing our beautiful friend won’t be there on the other side. We will always return to Green Turtle Cay. Lincoln will always be on my mind and in my prayers. We send our love and gratitude to the entire Jones family for sharing Lincoln with us all these years.

Thank you, Lincoln!

Willie Powers