The collection includes Biographical Information: his obituary (copy), autobiography, and memorial service programs and video; and materials related to the chancel play derived from his book (A) Non-violent revelation to John, (copies of which are available in the CMU Libraries).
Of particular interest to CMU students will be his autobiography which documents how the increasing racial violence and numbers of murders, particularly those of Robert and President John F. Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., affected him. He also details incidents of racism against African-Americans in Mount Pleasant and CMU and the efforts of CMU students and Father John Goodrow of St. John’s Episcopal Church to work towards positive integration and changes at CMU and in Mount Pleasant.
Biography:
Thomas R. Jones was born on May 7, 1945, the son of Robert W. and Lucile (Brooks) Jones. He grew up in Farwell, Michigan, and graduated from Farwell High School in May 1963.
After graduating from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 1968, he earned a Master’s degree in Divinity from Southern Methodist University in Dallas (Texas). Rev. Jones served churches in East Texas and in North Adams, Jerome, and Horton, Michigan. He was the director of the Wesley Foundation at CMU, 1978-1992. Also, Rev. Jones served as the part-time pastor of the Leaton United Methodist Church.
Rev. Jones was active in civil rights, the peace movement and organic farming. He led many work camps to help people in the United States, the Caribbean and Central America.
In 1998 he published his book, (A) Non-violent revelation to John, which was made into a chancel play for St. John’s Episcopal Church (Mount Pleasant, Michigan).
He particularly enjoyed music, the arts and world travel.
Rev. Jones married Ruth Donan, who also graduated from CMU in 1968, in August of 1968.
On November 4, 2003 Rev. Jones passed away suddenly in Phoenix, Arizona. His funeral service was held on November 8, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church (Mount Pleasant, Michigan). He was survived by his wife, Ruth, daughter Sarah Jane Jones, son, Michael Ellis Jones, siblings, and three grandchildren. (This information is from the collection.)
