Joseph Johnson Jones, Jr.

A Life Well Lived Joseph Johnson Jones, Jr., affectionately known as Papa Joe, was born February 21, 1938 in King and Queen County to the late Joseph Johnson Jones, Sr. and Clara Dean Jones. He was called home to be with our Lord early Thursday morning, May 26, 2016. Joseph accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at an early age, was baptized and joined New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Walkerton, VA. He joined the Good Shepherd Church in Richmond, VA in 1982. As a member of Good Shepherd, Joseph served God through the Deacon Board, Men's Choir, Men's Fellowship and Wednesday's Night Prayer Meeting. Joseph was educated in the King and Queen County school system. Because of his love for baseball and skill as a third-baseman, he traveled north settling down in Philadelphia, pursuing his passion to become a professional baseball player. Joseph had the privilege of playing minor league baseball with the late great Satchel Paige. Philadelphia is where he met and married his loving and devoted wife, Rosie Estelle Ware, on May 27, 1960; 56 years of marital bliss. Their union was blessed with two sons and two daughters. During those years, he was the proprietor of the Fruit King Comer Grocer at 56th & Market Streets. Joseph's passion was for his family. He enjoyed the gathering of family and friends for food, fun and fellowship. His pastime was sports, camping, hunting, fishing, bowling, and playing cards. Joseph fought against his declining health, not letting his battle with cancer stop him from reaching out to family and friends nor pass up a good game of Phase 10 (even in the hospital). Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, Clara D. and Joseph J. Jones, Sr., his sister, Queen Jackson and his brother, Robert D. Jones. He was loved by many, and leaves to cherish his memory, his wife,Rosie Estelle; two sons, Ronald V. Jones, Sr. (Betty) and Gregory D. Jones; two daughters, Avis R. Jones (Anthony) and Angela R. Haskell (Marlon); four grandchildren, Ronald V. Jones, Jr., Andre D. Jones (Shayla}, Marcus D. Jones and Akia J. Jones; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Mildred A. Mikell (George) and one brother, David L. Jones (Elsie}; great aunt Elsie Gibson; one sister-in-law, Florence H. Jones; three devoted friends, Dea. Harold Swales, Ernest (Tiny) Hodge and Dea. Jessie Hawthorne, his prayer partner; god-children, and many loving relatives and friends. 0 Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in forgiving that we are pardoned;and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

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Joseph Johnson Jones, Jr.

February 21, 1938 - May 26, 2016