By PORTIA A. SCOTT (www.atlantadailyworld.com)
A packed audience attended final rites for Theodore Roosevelt Jones Jr., Thursday, Dec. 8, at Warren Memorial United Methodist Church. Pastor Rev. Donald K. Reed Sr. officiated, with Rev. Wimbley Hale Jr., former pastor of Warren and now pastor of Andrews Chapel UMC, bringing the eulogy.
The 11 a.m. service was a somber one for family and friends who remembered the deceased as serving more than 38 years as an educator of the Atlanta Public Schools. Jones, a native of Columbus, Ga., served as principal of several schools including Peeples Street Elementary, Ragsdale Elementary; John Kennedy Middle, Sutton Middle, Bass High, Sylvan High and Therrell High. He also served as a counselor at Dean Rusk Elementary and curriculum liaison specialist at the Instructional Service Center. He served earlier as a teacher at E.R. Carter Elementary and J.C. Harris Elementary schools.
Ted Jones, as he was affectionately known by friends and family, attended public high school in Columbus, and then went to Clark College in
Atlanta on a vocal scholarship, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in education. He then graduated from Atlanta University, where he received two master’s degrees in guidance and counseling, and administration and supervision. He married his college singing sweetheart, Sylvia Ann Lee of Atlanta, in June 1956, and to this union two children were born: Theodore Vincent and Joyce DeLise. Sylvia Jones preceded him in death a few years ago.
Jones was a dependable person, expressing his finest qualities as a husband and father, his obituary read. He was fun to be around and had a great sense of humor. Ted Jones enjoyed showing off his “great” dancing skills and loved the golf, tennis, volleyball, softball and ping pong. In addition for his love for swimming, Jones enjoyed football and basketball. It also wasn’t uncommon to find the deceased lost in his home library of literature, traveling the world with his wife, or fulfilling his need for adventure. A connoisseur of fine food, he was a master of grilling.
The deceased also was a devoted member of Warren Memorial, serving on the Administrative Board and active in the United Methodist Men. Blessed with a beautiful baritone voice, he was a lifelong member of the Sanctuary Choir of Warren and the Atlanta University Community Chorus. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Jones also shared his singing talent at numerous wedding and funeral ceremonies, where he refined his signature song of “In This Very Room.” Rev. Hale made reference to this song in the eulogy, where Hale said Jones’ presence was felt in the room with the Lord and he was embraced by the arms of God.
Ted Jones was a member of numerous organizations, including the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), National Education Association (NEA), Kiwanis International, Boy Scouts of America, the NAACP, Butler Street YMCA and the Valhacha Community Club in northwest Atlanta. He also served as Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi and Vice Polemarch.
Reflections of the clean and wholesome life of Ted Jones were given by Maudette Twyman and Mel Solomon, with prayer by Rev. Dr. Vincent Miller of Warren, and scriptures by Rev. Shanan Jones of Ebenezer Baptist Church. A Lighting of Candle of Remembrance was conducted by grandchildren, Jasmine and John Wilson Jr., and Henry Porter rendered music selections, including “In This Very Room” and “His Eyes Are On the Sparrow.” David Stills of Warren served as organist.
Other survivors include: his two children T.V. Jones and Joyce Jones Wilson; one son-in-law, John Wilson; two grandchildren, John F. Wilson Jr. and Jasmine S. Wilson; a sister, Jeanette Nixon of Philadelphia; a nephew, Michael J. Nixon of Philadelphia; and several nieces, Tonette Pray of Philadelphia and Beth Wilborn, Allison Pearson and Bethanie Wilborn, all of Atlanta.
Remains were handled by Murray Brothers Funeral Home of Cascade, S.W. with burial at Lincoln Cemetery in northwest Atlanta. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. members served as pallbearers.
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