Anthony Leroy Jones

Anthony Leroy Jones, age 26, of Richmond, Virginia passed away Sunday, March 14, 2021 at VCU Medical Center. His life was a blessing. Anthony Leroy Jones started out as a sweet and bright little boy. He was his mother’s pride and joy and they took great care of each other. The abundance of love, laughter, good times and, true friendship between them remains unmatched. His innate intelligence, sharp wit, thirst for knowledge, and ambitious spirit at a very early age made it clear to everyone who knew him that his life had greater meaning and he would surely be a special young man. He was. He worked hard as a student at Cameron elementary school and was accepted into Emerging Scholars (a preparatory program for the academically gifted) as a rising fifth-grader. His smile and kindness were infectious and he was truly loved by the all of educators and peers he encountered. Everyone saw what a shining star he was and everyone wanted him to have every opportunity to succeed. He shined. His hard work spoke for itself and Anthony was accepted into Burgundy Farm Country Day School for the remainder of elementary school and middle school and then St. Stephens St. Agnes as a high school student. He began to flourish even more in high school by making a slew of new friends and being an active, athletic football player. Sophomore year during a game Anthony lost his footing, fell, and passed out unexpectedly. He was rushed to the hospital. After a myriad of testing, it was discovered that he had developed a rare degenerative disease called Post Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or P.O.T.S His life changed dramatically with this discovery and Anthony was forced to take a recovery break from school and be homeschooled for a bit until his condition went into remission. A determined Anthony pushed through this difficult time with the unwavering support and encouragement of his mother. They worked as a team and Anthony was finally well enough to not only graduate high school in a timely fashion but gain acceptance into Virginia Commonwealth University. Anthony mustered all of his strength and fueled by the same ambition he had all along, decided he would use his opportunities to bless others. During his matriculation at university, Anthony studied abroad in Argentina and developed a passion for philanthropy. He helped build a school overseas in Honduras and helped to bring running water to a small town in Bolivia. Anthony knew not only the value of education but the value of compassion and support. After graduation, Anthony then went on to focus on underprivileged neighborhoods advocating for fairness in education. He chose to teach children with special needs to truly make a difference in their lives. He was active in his Richmond neighborhood providing community service working with food banks and providing filled backpacks for kids going back to school. He had fallen in love with his sweet girlfriend Nicole and life was beginning to transition once again as Anthony settled into the great man he was becoming. Survivors include his mother, Cheryl Jones of Fredericksburg, VA; his father, Leroy Anderson of Washington, DC; his maternal grandfather, Roger Jones of Stafford, VA ; paternal grandparents, Malcolm and Verna Anderson of Washington DC; his girlfriend, Nicole Spangenberg. The family will receive friends from 6:00-9:00pm Friday, March 19, 2021 at Mullins & Thompson Fredericksburg. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00am Saturday, March 20, 2021 at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, Fredericksburg with Pastor Donnie Reynolds officiating.