Saying Goodbye to a Brother

IMG_4385

Jon Pelham, with Matt Booth and Nikki Covington

Last week, the cigar industry said goodbye to a true Brother of the Leaf, Mr. Jon Pelham.

Over the years, Jon and his wife, Mandy, traveled all over and met a lot of “cigar people”…brand owners, shop owners, and other loyal consumers, so there has been a wide outpouring of love and kind things said about Jon in the past week.

No one will miss him more, though, than his family…Mandy…his “big baby brother,” Jared…his mom and dad. If you pray, please remember them in the coming weeks.

As I stated on Facebook last week, it was a privilege to call Jon a friend. I enjoyed hanging out and debating cigars, agreeing on most politics, disagreeing on most sports. We will miss his feisty, opinionated, boisterous and fun nature at Burns Tobacconist and we will miss him cheering on Duke on the shop’s TV once college basketball season starts.

He left us with a smile through the sadness, though, when he got his wishes for funeral music. It’s not often a traditional Southern funeral will start out with the casket being wheeled in to the opening chords of Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home.”

Farewell, brother…until we all meet again.

David Jones

David has been smoking premium cigars since 2001. He is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Leaf Enthusiast. He worked as a full-time retail tobacconist for over 4 years at Burns Tobacconist in Chattanooga, TN. Currently he works full-time as a graphic designer for ClearBox Strategies, also based in Chattanooga.

You may also like...

8 Responses

  1. bob langmaid says:

    RIP Jon, will keep the family in our prayers.

  2. Texican says:

    Sounds like a great BOTL. Sorry to hear of his passing, & will of course keep his family in my prayers.

  3. Swede214 says:

    My condolences to the family.

  4. foozer6976 says:

    R.I.P. Very sorry for your loss, prayers your way and family as well.

  5. Craig says:

    Always sad to hear about losing someone in the community, especially someone like this who sounds like a great person to sit around and share a cigar with. Thoughts and prayers to you and the family.

  6. czerbe says:

    Just sad

  7. Miguel Rocha says:

    A person’s passing is never easy. Rest in peace brother!

  8. MattyBlayze says:

    Sorry to hear of his passing