Mr. John Maurice Jones

In the early hours of Sunday, January 3, 2021, John Maurice “Mike” Jones, loving husband and father of two wonderful daughters, went home to his Creator at the age 66.

John was born on July 30, 1954 in San Antonio, Texas. He was the sixth of eight children from the union of the late Edward Louis Jones, Sr. and Hattie Lee Jones. His father served in the United States Air Force and John was raised as a military brat, frequently moving with his siblings and parents across the United States. He developed a passion for comic books and a talent for quickly making friends with his comical way of making others laugh.

John came of age in Columbia, South Carolina. He graduated from W.J. Keenan High School and left to begin his college studies at Grambling State University in Louisiana. During the later part of the Vietnam War era, he followed in his father’s footsteps by serving his country in the U.S. Air Force. He earned an associate’s degree in Accounting and Business Studies at Midlands Technical College shortly after his honorable discharge from military service.

Around this time, John met the love of his life, Isabell Williams. The young couple became inseparable and married in 1977. Their union produced two lovely daughters, Zakiya and Shamira. John worked in several industries and used his entrepreneurial mindset to explore opportunities to support his family. Before finally retiring, he worked alongside his talented wife in their beauty salon as a Master Hair Care Specialist. Outgoing and personable, he often traded jokes and stories with fellow veterans at the VA Hospital where he was affectionately known as “The Great John Jones.”

Several years ago, John re-connected with his faith and surrendered his life to Christ. He used his gifts for connecting with people to help build the Lord’s Kingdom, often going into the streets of Columbia, carrying a cross that he made to share his excitement for God. To show himself approved, John pursued studies at several Bible colleges, including College of Cross Style at the Ecumenical University. He also pastored at Evangelical Ecumenical Church. A radical preacher who never compromised with God’s Word, John would challenge people to literally take off their shoes and stand on the Word of God. Before God finally called His faithful servant home, John had introduced the Gospel to many others throughout the world.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother, Edward L. (Emma) Jones, Jr.; and sister, Judy Jones Thomas-Crum.

John is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 43 years, Isabell Jones; his daughters, Zakiya B.(Anthony) Ashford and Shamira S. Jones; his sisters, Harriet E. (Edward) Hitchens, Helen M. (Richard) Vaughn, Linda P. Pierce, and Vivian E. (Sammy) Jones; brother, James A. (Andrea) Jones; three grandchildren, Tyreke D. Ashford-Jones, Tykese D. Ashford, and Zahir S. Jones; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and spiritual family.

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