Obituary of Clarence Quinten Jones

Clarence (CJ) Jones was the only child of Charlotte Rose Jones and Clarence Edward Boyd. He was born on January 30, 1966 in Detroit, Michigan. He accepted Christ at an early age, and was baptized as a young man in Ann Arbor, Michigan. CJ was a faithful and active member of The Empowerment Center since March of 2008. Bishop Daniel and Elder Valarie Cunningham are the pastors of The Empowerment Center. CJ was an active member of the praise and worship team. He loved to worship the Lord. He played guitar for the praise and worship team faithfully. CJ was also involved in the Marriage Ministry and the Children’s Ministry with his wife LaShana Jones. CJ was a very gifted writer. He often did freelance writing and editing for the church. CJ was a faithful servant of God to the end. He lived out the Gospel and the Great Commission.

 Clarence and his wife LaShana founded a nonprofit ministry for homeless and low income families called the Homeless Relief Campaign Initiative in April of 2009. CJ served as vice president and later president of the board of HRCI. He was always involved in community organizing. CJ was passionate about the poor and working with children. He was an active member of the Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community (I.S.A.A.C.). He served as a faithful member of ISAAC for many years advocating for the education of children.

Clarence Quinten Jones married LaShana Marie Johnson on June 9. 2007 in Warren, Michigan at The Word of Truth Church of God in Christ. They were blessed with twelve years of holy matrimony.  Together they had one son James Clarence Jones on September 9, 2017. His most joyful experiences were with his son James “My Little Baby Boyee”.

Clarence was a faithful employee for the Kalamazoo Public School District for many years. He worked as a paraprofessional and a substitute teacher. He also was employed for 11 years as a writer and editor of He Reigns Gospel Magazine with the founder Tayo Adedji. CJ was a gifted writer he was working on his first book for many years.  He was also passionate about teaching and his life goal was to get his teacher certificate.

Clarence was a brilliant man. He graduated high school in 1984 from the prestigious Detroit Country Day High School in Birmingham. Michigan. While in high school he loved to wrestle, play soccer, run track, play the piano, and participate in school plays. He also loved to write poetry and was an avid reader. He enjoyed learning about the weather, and had a photographic memory for dates. After high school CJ received a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He studied English Literature and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in August of 1989. CJ furthered his educational studies by attending Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He studied English Literature and Education and graduated with a Masters of Arts degree in August of 1995.  CJ planned to pursue his Doctorate degree in English at the University of Michigan.

Clarence departed this life on August 1, 2019 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife LaShana and his son James. He also leaves behind three aunts: Mary Jones, Aurelia Southward, and Rachel Jones; Three uncles: James Jones, Lawrence Jones, and Joe Louis Clay; Two special sister cousins: Valerie Jones and Karen Jones; and a host of cousins and friends.