Chief Petty Officer Mark “Sincere” A. Jones Sr.

Obituary For Chief Petty Officer Mark “Sincere” A. Jones Sr.

Chief Petty Officer Mark “Sincere” A. Jones Sr, formerly of Lebanon, OH, entered eternity on January 12, 2025. Mark was born to the union of Loraine D. Hickson McKinnon and Jerome A. Jones Sr, on June 11, 1986, in Youngstown, OH. Mark lived a life steeped in purpose and dedication.

Mark had a love for football evidenced from his days playing for the Volney Rogers Little football League. He was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan. A proud 2005 graduate of the Rayen School, Mark was the Tiger’s quarterback during his scholastic days. He was also active in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, the Rayen Record Journalists, Tiger Talk TV, peer mentoring and student advisory council. He obtained the moniker Sincere from his days as a respected rap artist & producer.

Upon completion of high school, Mark entered the United States Navy and served a tour in Kuwait. During his nearly two decades of service, he was decorated for his valor to our country. He received the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, N/MC Achievement Medal, GWOT Expeditionary Medal, GWOT Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, N/MC Oversees Service Ribbon, Expert Rifleman Medal, Expert Pistol Shot Medal.

Mark attended Youngstown State University to study criminal justice and policing where he was co-class commander and completed federal law enforcement training. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the American Military University. At the time of his passing, Mark was pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Administration at Franklin University.

Mark also attended the Military Policy Academy, the Navy Center for security forces, Master Arms MPA, Ohio Peace Officers Training, Marine Corps Police Academy and Field Training Officer/Coordinator- Program Manager.

Mark was employed as Master at Arms, Petty Officer First Class & Chief Petty Officer approaching twenty years of service with the United States Navy. With an entrepreneurial spirit, he was also the owner & operator of Jones Property Group, Ohio Trucking Company, La’Jor America LLA and the Jones School LLC in Columbus Ohio.

Mark's past employment include his experience as bus operator service supervisor for the Central Ohio Transit Authority, deputy sheriff for the Mahoning County Sheriff Department, director and cook supervisor for Aramark Food Service in Columbus, lieutenant police officer for the Defense Logistics Agency, police officer & field training officer with the USMC, division manager for Cincinnati Metro, the interim director of performance management and innovation division manager at Republic Services and most recently was the operations manager at the Dayton OH facilities.

Mark will be remembered not only for his professional accomplishments but also for his deep love and devotion to his family. His legacy will be sustained by his parents, children Sheila Crafter, Mark Jones Jr., Layla Jones, Jordan Jones, Jeremiah Torres and granddaughter Jay Lei’ Ortiz.

Precious memories will be embraced by his siblings Kenisha (Timothy Walker) Will, Kenquela Antisar, Joe Ann Hickson, Evonne, Eboni, Curtis and Keriston McKinnon, Jacqueline Williams, Darrell Ford, Jerome (Lori) Franklin, William (Melody Tullis) Jones, Jerome A. (Candice) Jones Jr., Toni Pinkley, Jada Jones, Unique & Lawrence Alli, Teeda and Cyan Otey.

Mark also shared his love with his bonus moms Lisa and Michelle Jones and Stephanie McKinnon, grandmother Ethel Jones, along with his best friends Derrick (Erin) Slocum Sr., Nigel Nevels, Dennis Nieves, & Andreous Gillam, David Dickey, Pierson Haywood, Joe Rive and Daniel Cox, along with an abundance of family and friends.

As Mark passed into eternity, he was reunited with his son, Kairo Goode-Jones, sister Marquita Hickson, grandparents William Jones, Joe Ann Hickson Williams and Curtis Cummings, aunts Debra Hickson and Leslie Jones, uncles Alfred Jones Sr., Jerome McKinnon, who helped rear him, brother in Christ Kristopher Stuart and his cousins Juawon Fields, Dymond Ortello and Daniel Ortello, all who preceded him in death.

Friends and loved ones are invited to gather and pay their respects, sharing in the collective remembrance of a man whose spirit touched many lives. In honor of Mark's life and legacy, the community is invited to join the family at the Jaylex Event Center, 2110 Glenwood Ave on Thursday January 30, 2025, for a public viewing at10:00 AM. A Celebration of Life service will commence at 11:00am with Senior Pastor Kofee Mostella of the Remnant Church officiating and Youngstown Police Department Community Liaison Malik Mostella as the eulogist. Services will also be live streamed on the J. E. Washington Facebook page

Following the committal ceremony, Mark will be interred, with military honors at the Belmont Park Cemetery in Youngstown, Ohio. As we gather to celebrate Mark’s life, we invite all who knew him to partake in this act of reverence, gratitude, and love. His memory shall forever live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate to call him son, father/grandfather, brother, friend, and mentor. May he rest in peace.

At this time of intimate need and personal loss, the beloved family Chief Petty Officer Mark “Sincere” A. Jones Sr., elected to entrust the Ministry of Comfort & Care, along with Transitional After-Care Arrangements to the J. E. Washington Funeral Services, 2234 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown OH 330.782.8500.