Michael Preston Jones was born on March 6, 1959, in Pensacola, Florida to Mr. Raymond and Mrs. Mabel Jones. He is the second of three children.
Michael’s formal education began at Military Dependents School in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He continued his schooling in Pensacola, graduating from Pensacola High School in 1977. His post high school education included earning a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Chemistry from Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1981. After receiving his degree from Tuskegee, Michael decided to serve his country, so he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving from 1985-1988. Michael concluded his military career with the rank of E-4. His love of science kept tugging at his heart; he returned to post graduate studies, enrolled in Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and earned a Master of Science Degree in Chemistry.
Education was Michael’s chosen profession. He impacted many lives through a teaching career that spanned thirty-four years. Michael taught at the Shanks High School in Gadsden County and taught at the following colleges and universities: University of West Florida, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Community College, Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College, Jefferson Davis Community College, and finally Indian River State College. In addition to Michael’s teaching career, he also worked as a chemist at Organomed Corporation in Coventry, Rhode Island.
Additionally, Michael served and refueled at Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, where he served on the Men’s Usher Board, Trustee Board, Sons of Allen, and The Steward Board.
Michael joined Saint Paul A.M.E. Church shortly after relocating to Fort Pierce, under the pastorate of Reverend Nathan Mugula. It was here that he found a home away from home. It was also at Saint Paul where he met and fell in love with the young lady who would become his wife. Michael joined in holy matrimony with Bettina Monique Brown on August 11, 2018.
Michael went home to be with the Lord on February 16, 2020, with his wife, Bettina; sister in-Christ, Vonda Allen; and cousin, Cedric Johnson by his bedside.
Michael will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him as a quiet, brilliant, dedicated, God-fearing, and loving man.
Forever cherishing his memory are: his devoted wife, Bettina; parents, Raymond and Mabel Jones; brother, Raymond (Jackie) Jones; sister, Lisa (Lance) Beloney; sister-in-law, Janice M. Brown; three nieces, two nephews, two great-nephews, two great-nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Public visitation for Michael Preston Jones will take place on Friday, February 28, 2020 from 3:00pm-7:00pm at Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Pierce, FL. A Celebration of his life will convene on Saturday, February 29, 2020 also at Saint Paul AME Church in Fort Pierce, FL beginning at 11:00am. Burial will take place at a later date in the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL.
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