Obituary for John A. "Johnny" Jones
John A. Jones passed away on January 27, 2021, at the age of 85, at Calvary Hospital in Bronx, New York.
“Johnny,” as he was endearingly called by everyone, was born in White Plains, New York on May 24, 1935, the second son of Grover W. Jones Sr. and Rita E. Jones, and brother to Grover W. “Deacon” Jones Jr. Growing up in the town of Greenburgh and baptized in Union Baptist Church, he attended Greenburgh public elementary and junior high schools and White Plains High School, where, as a student-athlete, he excelled in boxing. After graduating in 1953 Johnny attended Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, for two years. In 1956, Johnny met Gladys, whom he married in 1960, and together they had two sons, Karlen J. “KJ” Jones, and Craig E. “CJ” Jones.
Early in his professional career, Johnny worked as a mortgage banker, and as a credit officer. However, he knew that working with youth was his true calling. In the late 1960s, he joined the City of Yonkers Youth Board, eventually becoming a Commissioner. After moving to Elmsford in 1968, Johnny joined the staff at the Greenburgh Youth Center. The agency would go on to become the Theodore D. Young Community Center, where he worked as a Counselor and Supervisor of Youth Activities and Services until retiring. In a full “second career,” from 1987 to 2020 Johnny served as the Official Announcer for the championship-winning Westchester Community College Vikings men’s and women’s basketball teams, and was named “The Voice of Westchester Community College Athletics.”
In a true testament to his commitment to better and to empower youth, today there literally are thousands of people throughout the United States who have achieved success thanks to Johnny’s selflessness and influence.
Johnny devoted himself to encouraging people to strive for excellence in all their endeavors, especially education. He was a fast friend to almost everyone he encountered, and always willing to share himself with anyone who needed assistance, compassion, an ear to listen, and most importantly, his wisdom and advice.
Johnny was a founding member of the African-American Men of Westchester, a member of the Westchester Stickmen Golf Club, and also served on the Greenburgh Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. He loved jazz and was a true sports fanatic, he loved the town of Greenburgh and its residents, and he fiercely loved his wife and sons.
He will be missed by many, but together, we will all move forward in his loving memory.
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ATTENTION: During this COVID-19 crisis, as we slowly begin to phase back into small capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting and controlling the number of people inside the funeral home. WE HAVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICES THIS FRIDAY 2/5 - PLEASE READ IN DETAIL BELOW BEFORE EVEN ATTEMPTING TO ATTEND ANYTHING PLEASE! Thank you so kindly!
ALL seating for the visitation/wake & funeral on Fri., 2/5 is by invitation of the family explicitly only. What IS being ALLOWED for others, however, is a constant stream of HEALTHY attendees, in groups of two (2), to just BRIEFLY do a 'walk through visitation', give their respects and leave, during the 10:45AM-12:45PM TIME period ONLY. Strict social distancing MUST be maintained inside & outside at ALL times however. So during that time period, in groups of 2 with your masks on (preferably wearing 2 masks), you will be allowed to come to the front door, get hand sanitizer, read/sign the contact list/release, sign the register book (NOTE: please preferably bring your own pen), walk through to offer any brief condolence to the family keeping social distance (NO touching/hugging/handshaking, ONLY clothed elbow bumping briefly if at all), briefly view, and then immediately leave the building & premises if you've not been extended an invitation to sit & stay (you will literally be in the funeral home for a few minutes or less). Once 12:45PM comes, NO one else will be admitted and ALL not assigned a seat must leave the funeral home & vicinity. The Funeral Service itself is PRIVATE for INVITED attendees of the family explicitly only. But there is a PUBLIC ZOOM of the ENTIRE wake & service for all to see from anywhere at that time Fri. - DIRECT ZOOM LINK at Top of this page on Desktop click Photos & Videos tab then scroll down to Click WATCH WEBCAST ~OR~ on a Cellphone - simply scroll to bottom of this page & Click WATCH WEBCAST
(https://zoom.us/j/98794214019?pwd=VDl3VXlDK1U4Yzk4c0phK0NHV1Ewdz09 Webinar/Meeting ID: 987 9421 4019 Passcode: 660436) - OR CALL in to phone # 1-646-558-8656, with same Webinar/Meeting ID & Passcode above. If you're attending though, masking & social distancing MUST be maintained inside & outside at ALL times, & there is NO guarantee of entry! PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff/personnel at All times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & NYS law, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the Health & Safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You MUST come to the funeral home minimally wearing a mask (and with the increase in number & severity of strains of COVID, DOUBLE MASKING is recommended/preferred), & wear masks inside the funeral home at all times, & there is NO guarantee of entry. You must use hand sanitizer upon entering the funeral home & HONESTLY sign a COVID acknowledgment/exposure waiver/release form - if you cannot HONESTLY sign off to ALL conditions nor want to give your contact information even if you can, DO NOT COME NOR ENTER. If you know or even suspect you have a coronovirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronovirus/COVID-19; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, are under an imposed or advised quarantine, and/or are visiting from out of NY State that requires you to quarantine/take & have a negative COVID test result &/or adhere to any other requirements before going out in public and you have not done so nor gotten an exemption, please do NOT even attempt to attend any services nor come into the funeral home!!! Please preferably bring & use your own pen for signing our contact list/release & the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff/personnel at ALL times, for the Health & Safety of All. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Johnny Jones entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Jones family during their time of bereavement.
Please leave written and/or video condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions in his name/memory/honor to American Cancer Society and/or White Plains Hospital (may also be done through donation tabs/links here in website at the bottom of this page); and/or as another lasting tribute, you may choose to plant a tree in his name/memory/honor. If you're sending flowers despite the family's request, they may be delivered either on Thurs. Feb. 4th, 2021 by/before 6:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home, or on Fri. Feb. 5, 2021 by/before 10:00am to Lee's Funeral Home. The Family Thanks You!
“Johnny,” as he was endearingly called by everyone, was born in White Plains, New York on May 24, 1935, the second son of Grover W. Jones Sr. and Rita E. Jones, and brother to Grover W. “Deacon” Jones Jr. Growing up in the town of Greenburgh and baptized in Union Baptist Church, he attended Greenburgh public elementary and junior high schools and White Plains High School, where, as a student-athlete, he excelled in boxing. After graduating in 1953 Johnny attended Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, for two years. In 1956, Johnny met Gladys, whom he married in 1960, and together they had two sons, Karlen J. “KJ” Jones, and Craig E. “CJ” Jones.
Early in his professional career, Johnny worked as a mortgage banker, and as a credit officer. However, he knew that working with youth was his true calling. In the late 1960s, he joined the City of Yonkers Youth Board, eventually becoming a Commissioner. After moving to Elmsford in 1968, Johnny joined the staff at the Greenburgh Youth Center. The agency would go on to become the Theodore D. Young Community Center, where he worked as a Counselor and Supervisor of Youth Activities and Services until retiring. In a full “second career,” from 1987 to 2020 Johnny served as the Official Announcer for the championship-winning Westchester Community College Vikings men’s and women’s basketball teams, and was named “The Voice of Westchester Community College Athletics.”
In a true testament to his commitment to better and to empower youth, today there literally are thousands of people throughout the United States who have achieved success thanks to Johnny’s selflessness and influence.
Johnny devoted himself to encouraging people to strive for excellence in all their endeavors, especially education. He was a fast friend to almost everyone he encountered, and always willing to share himself with anyone who needed assistance, compassion, an ear to listen, and most importantly, his wisdom and advice.
Johnny was a founding member of the African-American Men of Westchester, a member of the Westchester Stickmen Golf Club, and also served on the Greenburgh Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. He loved jazz and was a true sports fanatic, he loved the town of Greenburgh and its residents, and he fiercely loved his wife and sons.
He will be missed by many, but together, we will all move forward in his loving memory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATTENTION: During this COVID-19 crisis, as we slowly begin to phase back into small capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting and controlling the number of people inside the funeral home. WE HAVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICES THIS FRIDAY 2/5 - PLEASE READ IN DETAIL BELOW BEFORE EVEN ATTEMPTING TO ATTEND ANYTHING PLEASE! Thank you so kindly!
ALL seating for the visitation/wake & funeral on Fri., 2/5 is by invitation of the family explicitly only. What IS being ALLOWED for others, however, is a constant stream of HEALTHY attendees, in groups of two (2), to just BRIEFLY do a 'walk through visitation', give their respects and leave, during the 10:45AM-12:45PM TIME period ONLY. Strict social distancing MUST be maintained inside & outside at ALL times however. So during that time period, in groups of 2 with your masks on (preferably wearing 2 masks), you will be allowed to come to the front door, get hand sanitizer, read/sign the contact list/release, sign the register book (NOTE: please preferably bring your own pen), walk through to offer any brief condolence to the family keeping social distance (NO touching/hugging/handshaking, ONLY clothed elbow bumping briefly if at all), briefly view, and then immediately leave the building & premises if you've not been extended an invitation to sit & stay (you will literally be in the funeral home for a few minutes or less). Once 12:45PM comes, NO one else will be admitted and ALL not assigned a seat must leave the funeral home & vicinity. The Funeral Service itself is PRIVATE for INVITED attendees of the family explicitly only. But there is a PUBLIC ZOOM of the ENTIRE wake & service for all to see from anywhere at that time Fri. - DIRECT ZOOM LINK at Top of this page on Desktop click Photos & Videos tab then scroll down to Click WATCH WEBCAST ~OR~ on a Cellphone - simply scroll to bottom of this page & Click WATCH WEBCAST
(https://zoom.us/j/98794214019?pwd=VDl3VXlDK1U4Yzk4c0phK0NHV1Ewdz09 Webinar/Meeting ID: 987 9421 4019 Passcode: 660436) - OR CALL in to phone # 1-646-558-8656, with same Webinar/Meeting ID & Passcode above. If you're attending though, masking & social distancing MUST be maintained inside & outside at ALL times, & there is NO guarantee of entry! PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff/personnel at All times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & NYS law, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the Health & Safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You MUST come to the funeral home minimally wearing a mask (and with the increase in number & severity of strains of COVID, DOUBLE MASKING is recommended/preferred), & wear masks inside the funeral home at all times, & there is NO guarantee of entry. You must use hand sanitizer upon entering the funeral home & HONESTLY sign a COVID acknowledgment/exposure waiver/release form - if you cannot HONESTLY sign off to ALL conditions nor want to give your contact information even if you can, DO NOT COME NOR ENTER. If you know or even suspect you have a coronovirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronovirus/COVID-19; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, are under an imposed or advised quarantine, and/or are visiting from out of NY State that requires you to quarantine/take & have a negative COVID test result &/or adhere to any other requirements before going out in public and you have not done so nor gotten an exemption, please do NOT even attempt to attend any services nor come into the funeral home!!! Please preferably bring & use your own pen for signing our contact list/release & the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff/personnel at ALL times, for the Health & Safety of All. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Johnny Jones entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Jones family during their time of bereavement.
Please leave written and/or video condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions in his name/memory/honor to American Cancer Society and/or White Plains Hospital (may also be done through donation tabs/links here in website at the bottom of this page); and/or as another lasting tribute, you may choose to plant a tree in his name/memory/honor. If you're sending flowers despite the family's request, they may be delivered either on Thurs. Feb. 4th, 2021 by/before 6:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home, or on Fri. Feb. 5, 2021 by/before 10:00am to Lee's Funeral Home. The Family Thanks You!