Mr. Raymond Wayne Jones

JONES, Mr. Raymond Wayne - Age 57, passed away Saturday, October 31, 2015 at Heritage Manor Healthcare Center. Family hour 1:30 p.m. Saturday, November 14, 2015 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. with memorial service commencing at 2 p.m. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Mr. Jones will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday. Mr. Raymond Wayne “Coach” Jones was born on March 15, 1958 at Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan, the son of William and Lena Jones. He departed this life on October 31, 2015 at Heritage Manor. Raymond was a member of The Rock Ministries, under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Robert Parrish. Raymond’s hobbies were sports, music, fishing and politics. He would fish, listen to, and play music morning, noon and night. His love for debating politics was strong, so don’t try to match wits with him. Even though his interest in sports came to him later in life, his love for sports was even stronger than politics. Between ages 20 and 21, his desire for sports grew and a new man was born. Even though he ran the night shift at his parents 7-Eleven store, a basketball coach and leader was in the making. He began to love all sports once he recognized he could help inspire, push and motivate young people through coaching, nothing and no one could stop his efforts. Raymond never went to college, but he still managed to help hundreds of athletes get scholarships to major colleges and universities, which is more than some coaches with degrees have done. Many future NBA players have crossed Ray’s path, but his true value was extracting a players unrecognized abilities and potential, helping them to get into college. Today those same young people are leading productive, respectful and professional lives. He has built a legendary reputation as a coach starting at Berston Field House, where he started and the Flint Jay’s team coaching a dozen teams to state titles, two national championships, with three teams as national runners up. He was responsible for several of Flint’s finest players. One of those players, Mateen Cleaves, played in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons. Mateen said, “Coach Jones would take a chance on kids that didn’t show promise.” Antonio Smith commented, “The main thing is, he did it from the heart. He sacrificed for us and showed us what it takes, and that played a big part in my life now.” Raymond also mentored and coached Eddie Robinson who said, “If it wasn’t for Coach Jones, I probably would not have attended college.” Robinson played Division II Basketball for the University of Central Oklahoma and later went on to play five seasons in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets. Corey Hightower also experienced stints in the NBA and CBA. It’s impossible to list all of Raymond’s accomplishments as coach, but if everyone in the world was as passionate or worked as hard as Raymond did in helping kids, the world would be a better place. With his love of coaching, the only thing that would come close to being a greater love would be the love for his daughter, Miricle. She is his pride and joy and he would move every mountain just for her smile alone. Mr. Raymond Wayne “Coach” Jones leaves to cherish his memory: his loving daughter, Miricle Chandler; 2 sisters, Wanda Jones of Flint and Jackie Jones of Pennsylvania; 3 brothers, William Henry (Melanie) Jones, Michael Angelo (Kathy) Jones, all of Flint and Kelvin Jones of Atlanta, GA; 2 nieces, Lawanda Ellis and Tameka Jones; 3 nephews, Michael Angelo Jones, Jr., Marcus Antwone Jones and David Ellis; 2 great-nephews, Michael Majesty Ellis and Marcus Jones, Jr.; 3 aunts, Rhoda (Milton) Smith, Linda (Robert) Thomas and Isie Britton; 3 uncles, James (Jennifer) Parker, Allen Parker and Alvin Parker; a host of cousins, other relatives and friends. Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his parents, William Henry, Sr. and Lena Jones; and sister, Esterquener Jones Ellis.

Mr. Raymond Wayne Jones

March 15, 1958 - October 31, 2015