A local business that has served its Jones County customers for five decades reopened its doors last week after eight months of restoration due to a devastating fire.
Stan’s Body Shop opened its doors April 20 for the first time since the July 6, 2025, blaze that shut it down. To make it worse, the fire was started by a troubled individual who took his own life and was found inside the building.
The owner of the business, Jeff Stanford, said they had six vehicles to work on when the doors were opened Monday, and by Tuesday afternoon, there had been six more brought in.
He said Stan’s began as a convenience store, garage and body shop in Wayside in 1976. Stanford said his father, James, opened the business after returning from the Air Force.
He worked at the business since he was 11 and took the reins after he graduated from high School.
Stanford recalled that business also burned down in 1981 and was rebuilt by his father. The building was not insured, and James Stanford borrowed $150,000 to rebuild it. After it was rebuilt, the focus was on the body shop part of the business.
Stanford moved the body shop to Gray in 2001 because customers seemed to prefer not to drive the seven miles to Wayside. The move was to a rented shop on Gray Highway first. He purchased another building before locating in his current location at 4250 Gray Highway.
The owner said the business was doing well, and with his two children, Marcus and Amber, working with him, he was seriously considering retirement. The fire has put those plans on hold.
Unlike his father, Stanford had insurance. He was out of town when the fire happened, but his insurance agent, Bob Farnsworth, called him even before he got back to tell him everything would be fine.
“I got my first check to start rebuilding in three weeks,” he said.
Stanford rented a stall at another body shop to finish the cars that were not damaged by the fire and later to take care of a few customers. He is very appreciative of the fire department, sheriff’s office and everyone in the community who helped after the fire.
Stanford said he is also appreciative of his customers.
The building was shining and beautiful when the doors opened Monday and fully operational, including a state-of-the-art paint booth.
“It is nice to start with all new equipment,” Stanford commented.
