Rev. Preston Jones,

JONES, Rev. Samuel Preston, Jr. “Sam” - Age 80, passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2009. Family hour 10AM Saturday, January 31, 2009 at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Hwy., with funeral service commencing at 11AM, Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10AM Saturday. Rev. Jones now lies in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 2PM-8PM today. Rev. Jones was born January 1, 1929 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Samuel Preston and Alberta Harston Jones, Sr. He was educated in Little Rock Public Schools and graduated from Dunbar High School. Sam attended Arkansas A.M. & N. (later named University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff), where he received an A.B. Degree in Sociology. He entered the ministry at Bethel United Methodist Church , then attended Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. After an interim period where he was a pastor in Oklahoma, he attended Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where he received a Master's in Theology and was ordained by the United Methodist Church in 1960. At Gammon, Sam served as a class officer and editor of the yearbook staff. He then went on to pastor in Troy, Ohio; Terre Haute, Indiana; Indianapolis, Indiana and back to Flint, Michigan. After retirement he served as interim minister when called. He also served as a migrant minister in Pennsylvania. Sam’s varied work experiences included high school math teacher, substitute teacher, coordinator at Big Brothers and O.I.C., real estate and insurance agent, and director of the Dort-Oak Park Neighborhood House and Urban Coalition of Greater Flint. Sam Jones was a devoted husband, father, brother and friend. He loved talking about his life growing up in Arkansas and has maintained many of his boyhood friendships. He loved weaving his life experiences into his sermons, often evoking laughter. He was also a big history buff who enjoyed sharing bits of what he knew with family and friends. Sam loved movies and books related to WW II and the Civil War and no one could match his love of watching and discussing sports. He loved jazz music and the big band era music from the 1940’s and opera. He enjoyed recording music for his family and friends. Sam loved to read and write and wrote regular columns for the Flint Spokesman and the CPSA Courier and wrote poetry for special occasions. He recently wrote and published a compilation of his works “Poems for All Seasons”. Rev. Samuel Preston Jones, Jr. “Sam” leaves to cherish his memories: devoted wife, Kathleen; three sons, Deon H. Jones of Leavenworth, KS, Norman (Duck Hyung) Jones of Honolulu, HI, David Harston (Beverly) Jones of Atlanta; two daughters, LaDonna J. Gamble of Flint and Stephanie A. Jones of Chicago; granddaughter, Ayana Claybrooks; grandsons, Fred and Tim Jones, Anthony and Trevor Gamble great-grandchildren, Avery, Andre and Isaac; sister, Rosemary C. Ward of Flint; brother-in-law, Billye G. Thompson, Sr.; niece, Lauretta Kennedy; nephews, Billye G. Thompson, Jr., Lance Thompson, Anthony Ward and Gerald Ward; a host of cousins including special cousins, Lela Hill and Faustine Eagans. Rev. Jones was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Kay Listra Jones; parents and sister, Laura Jean Thompson. The family would like to express a special thanks to Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton, who made special efforts to ease the family’s burden with the loss of Sam and Kay. In lieu of flowers please make contributions in honor of Rev. Samuel Preston Jones, Jr. name to Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 Ballenger Hwy., Flint, MI, 48504.