Jarvonta Trevell Jones was enjoying a day with friends on Spring Creek when he took a wrong step off the sandbar and drowned Saturday afternoon.

Attempts were made to rescue Jones, 23, but he was dead by the time Decatur County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled him out of the water.

Jones was home for the summer and studying to join the military.

He had been working at Walgreens on Shotwell Street since he was 17. In his five years there, customers grew to know him well.

“He was so sweet,” said Nora Day, who recounted how she and her sister Joy Cook and friend Lavada Alan used to shop in the store Friday nights. He would hug their necks, she said.

Walgreens manager Earl Chambers was the man who hired Jones five years ago.

“He was a very vibrant young man, and he was enthused about everything,” Chambers said. “It was a pleasure to work with him.”

Brittany Martin, assistant store manager trainee at Walgreens, said Jones loved his little brother, Jayden Brown, and would always talk about him and buy him things.

“He had a huge heart, and he was very caring,” Martin said. “He was our family. Hearing about it really hurt us, because we all loved him.”

Jones’ mother, Shandolyn Pittman, recounted how her son was so sweet and had such good manners. She also said how much Jones loved his little brother.

“They were so attached,” Pittman said. “I had to tell him that he always loves him, and he will always be your big brother.”

Pittman recounted how Jones always talked about one day buying a house for her.

“He was always so appreciative,” Pittman said. “When he was younger he told me I didn’t have to buy him anything for his birthday because I bought him school clothes.”

Department of Natural Resources TFC Tony Cox urged summer swimmers to tread carefully in the water. Drop offs can be just a step away, and ensuring you can swim can prevent any fatal accidents.