Paul Vernon Jones Jr.

Paul was born on November 26, 1955 at the Ft. Benning Army Base in Columbus, GA. the son of the late Paul Vernon Jones, Sr. and Sharon V. Gooden Jones.

Paul was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the United States Army at Camp Atterbury.

Paul was a 1973 graduate of Columbus High School and held a Nursing License from Ivy Tech State College. He graduated from Indiana University School of Social Work with a Master’s Degree in 2005. He was a United States Navy Veteran.

Paul was very passionate about and personally involved with his work at Camp Atterbury. He was very much an advocate for domestic violence victims. He was actively involved in many community activities throughout the past several years. Paul was a member of the committee instrumental in Columbus being named an All American City. He was a recipient of the Indiana Human Rights Commission Award in 2000. Paul was a graduate of and later served on the Board of Directors for Leadership Bartholomew County. He was actively involved in bringing the first all African American Art show to Columbus during Black History Month. Paul co-facilitated the Face-to-Face Dialogues for several years in Columbus. He was active in Stop the Hate Vigils and was a former member of the NAACP, Columbus Peace Fellowship and Mayor Armstrong’s Diversity Committee. Paul served on the Board of Director’s at Dancer’s Studio, Inc. and formerly worked as a medic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Paul attended workshops, weekend retreats, protests, marches and walking for causes. He believed strongly in dialogue, conversation and equality for all.

Military Rites will be presented at 5:30 P.M. on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at the Veterans Memorial Plaza on the Bartholomew County Courthouse Lawn by soldiers from Camp Atterbury with a “Celebration of Life” following until 8:30 P.M. across the street at the Dancer’s Studio, Inc. at 211 Washington St. in Columbus, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the North Star Montessori School Scholarship Fund.

Online condolences to the family of Mr. Jones may be made at www.hathaway-myers.com.

In keeping with Paul’s wishes cremation will be entrusted to The Columbus Crematory on Pearl St.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hathaway-Myers Chapel on Pearl St.

Paul is survived by a son, Matthew Tanner Jones at home; a close friend and companion, Joetta Shirley-Fee of Columbus, IN.; a half-brother, Jeffrey Jones; a half-sister, Paula Jones; a great uncle, Joe Downing of Columbus, IN. and several cousins.

Along with his parents, Paul was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Ben and Mary Frances “Peaches” Gooden with whom he made his home with while growing up in Columbus, IN.

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