Jones Jr. Matthew Aurelius (aka Matt Jones)- an “International Freedom Fighter”, Freedom Singer and Field Secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), departed this life on March 30, 2011 in New York City.  Arrested 29 times during the Civil Rights Movement, Matthew Jones, a prolific songwriter and composer produced more than 500 Freedom songs.

Matthew A. Jones Jr. was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 17, 1936 to the union of Father Matthew Aurelius Jones, Sr. and Olivia Beatrice Browning. (Deceased). Besides his parents, Matthew Jr. was predeceased by his sister Ruth (Rose) Hicks and a nephew, Ronald G. Hicks.

Left to cherish his memory are: his beloved wife and soul mate, Shelly D. Jones of New York, NY; beloved sons, Matthew A. Jones III, Gerald Paul Jones, Sr. and Ellis Lebron Jones, Sr. all of Chattanooga, TN; brother, Marshall Russell (Alice) Jones of Brooklyn, NY; sister, Brenda Frasier Jones of Chicago, IL; grandchildren: Shenearia, Lois, Matthew IV, Whitney Sade, Gerald Jr., Ellis Jr., Eva Lois, Elizabeth, Kezia, Rachel, Samuel, and Hannah Jones; great granddaughter: Kyaudreea Gaines; Uncle Grainger Browning Sr. and Aunt Esther Browning and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; extended family: Avon & Sheryl Rollins, Dr. Doris Scott Crawford, Anthony Cristello, Susie Erenrich, Stephen & Marci Ellis, Errol Maitland & Dr. Maxine Orris, Muriel Tillinghast, Martha Noonan, Dorothy Aldridge, Wazir Peacock, Ted Glick & Jane Calif, Nellie Bailey, Gina Tlamsa, Ray Collins, Sandy Boyer, Dr. Lenora Tate Magubane, Luci Murphy, Dale Kinney and many others too numerous to name.

Matthew’s family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with the funeral service to follow on Friday, April 8, 2011 at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 600 South Chestnut Street, Knoxville, TN.  Pastor David Pina officiating.  Matthew’s father, who was also a “Civil Rights Warrior”, was the first resident Priest in Charge at this church.  After the funeral, interment will be at New Gray Cemetery.  Service will conclude with a full dove release.

This obituary was posted on Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 at 9:00 am.
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