JOHN W JONES, SR.

God blessed our lives with John Westley "Bubba" Jones Sr. on June 5th, 1942.

He was an avid sports fan, especially football. He played for Phillis Wheatley High School and Prairie View A&M University as a half-back, full-back and was known for the hardest hits and tackles on the football field. He was lovingly named "Nook" by his coach which many of his childhood friends still call him to this day.

John has been a member of Calvary Baptist Church for 75+ years and happily served as the Superintendent of Sunday School, building manager, and later Deacon. John believed every child needed to be taught the Word so he would personally chauffeur the Calvary kids to Sunday school, made sure the building was heated in the winter, cooled in the summer and that the lawn looked immaculate. He worked 50+ years at Sears as a salesman and was one of the first African American men to retire from the company.

Nook married his high school sweetheart Jimmie J. Jones after his second year at Prairie View and they stayed married for 60 years until her untimely passing. John was a devoted family man to his sisters Lucille Calhoun who he would call every morning and ask "what are you going to do today," and his other sister Louise Graham in the afternoon and ask "what's for lunch." He looked up to his brother Alexander Jones Jr. as the "best dressed man on the planet." He is survived by his children Tonya Buckner, John W. Jones Sr, Eric E. Jones (deceased) and Deborah W. Benning.

John's presence will be missed by his brother and sisters, children, cousins, niece's, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A special thanks to his best friend since elementary school John "Flute" Harris, James Flowers, Reverend James McNeil and Richard Harris for lifting his spirits when he needed it most. May he rest in peace.