James T. Jones was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia to Ruby Knight and Samuel Knight on September 21, 1943. As a young man he moved to New York with his adopted mother Mabel C. Jones, of Bronx, New York.
He was educated in the Portsmouth School System, and the New York School System. While in New York he was employed at Colombia University as a security guard, and also employed as a taxi cab driver.
He later moved back to Portsmouth and worked at Newport News Shipbuilding for numerous years, and a security officer for the City of Newport News, Virginia.
James T. Jones was predeceased by his brothers, Frank Knight, Matthew Knight, Raymond Knight, Willie Knight, Roy Knight, Samuel Knight, Sr., Emmanuelle Knight, and Eugene Knight and his sisters, Margaret Ann Banks and Ruby Potts.
He leaves to cherish his memory his sons, Michael Jones and Mark C. Jones and his daughter, Melissa Cox and her companion Alfred Dean, all of New York; grandson, Brian T. Stevens from St. Petersburg, Florida; devoted nieces, Marion Graham, Shaneequa Graham, Deborah (Ronald) Dixon, and Crystal Banks; devoted cousins, Gale Stoakley and Daphne Stoakley; sisters-in-law, Julia Knight, Frances Knight, Betty Knight, and Louise Knight; devoted family friends, Vergie Matthews, Sheila (Eddie) Johnson, and Eddie Matthews; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and special grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on Friday, May 18, 2018 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home and Memorial Park. A celebration of his life will follow at 12:00 pm at the funeral home. Interment will be in Hampton-Veterans Memorial Gardens.
Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.
Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 2551 N. Armistead Avenue, Hampton, Virginia 23666.