In loving memory of John B. Jones Jr. - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

John B. Jones (“Butch” or “John John”) of Palm Coast, Florida died peacefully at the age of 79 on December 26, 2020.

He was born in the Motor City, Detroit, Michigan on February 26, 1941. However, the city he made his home for more than 30 years was Washington, DC. John made a remarkable impression on everyone he met and was described as “a sweetheart” by healthcare workers and longtime friends. His passions included an unquenchable love for learning, a deep love affair with jazz, playing his saxophone, tinkering with his beloved Audi collection, sharing his wisdom and knowledge, watching sports, discussing politics, and he was a sophisticated foodie. Those were his passions, but his unconditional, supernatural love was always squarely centered on his family. And he was never shy in talking about that love. On May 10, 1989 John married his wife Hildreth Carswell Jones who he described as “the greatest person” he had ever met out of the thousands of people he encountered in his lifetime.

His ambition, willpower and work ethic were simply unmatched. John’s unwavering focus and relentless pursuit of his dreams helped him achieve much academic and professional success. John could find anyone at a dinner party and pick their brain for hours about their expertise or interests, and he would also drop everything in an instant to teach or help someone without hesitation. In 1993, John founded RVJ International, the initials of his youngest child. The company, which focused on computer engineering and programming, was his ultimate dream realized.

John was a scholar, a lifelong student, a collector, a father, and a mentor, but he was also a fighter. He beat cancer THREE times, and he battled both renal failure and dementia. Despite his struggle this past year, he was still speaking of proposals, contracts, and business partnerships with everyone who visited and took care of him. Determined to make good deals in his last years, he even leveraged his negotiation skills with every nurse to get as many ice creams and popsicles as possible.

He deeply believed in hard work, truth (“math never lies”), equity and justice. Whether he was watching Judge Judy or the nightly news, his commentary always advocated for “what was right.” John never stopped trying to be a better husband, father, and businessman-he exemplified determination and resilience by refusing to allow circumstance confine or define him. He broke down barriers, was a trailblazer, and defied limitations. In fact, challenges always fueled his quest for excellence and accomplishment. He always found a way to beat the odds.

John is preceded in death by his father, Johnnie B. Jones, Sr. his mother Helen Ephriam Jones, and his sister Lorretta Jones.

He is survived by his wife Hildreth Carswell Jones (who he affectionately called “sweetie”), his children Rachel Victoria Jones, Kim Jones, and Kelly Jones. He is also survived by his sister, Jennifer Jones, and granddaughter, Brittney Jones.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the National Kidney Foundation in John’s memory.