Reverend Preston Carston Jones

Obituary For Reverend Preston Carston Jones

Reverend Preston Carston Jones, passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

Reverend Preston Carston Jones, Sr., born on September 17, 1941, was the seventh child of the late Maggie Ross Jones and Carson Jones. He was preceded in death by his siblings Blanche Jones, Man Jones, Wilbert Jones, Catherine Jones, Sylvester Jones, Danny Jones, David Jones, Roscoe Jones, and Paul Jones. Preston was born and raised in Hoke County, North Carolina, where he accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age while attending Shady Grove Holiness Church. On November 27, 2024, Preston was called home to be with the Lord. Preston graduated from Upchurch High School and Livingstone College. In 1963, he married the love of his life, Queen Vashti Billinger, at Boggs Academy in Keysville, Georgia, where he taught business education courses. At the time of his passing, Preston and Queen V. had been married 61 years and four days. Inspired by Luke 4:18-19, Preston answered the call to ministry and continued his education at Duke University Divinity School. In 1969, he entered the ministry as a student pastor in the United Methodist Church. After completing the rigorous course curricula mandated by the church, he was ordained as a Deacon and later as an Elder in the North Carolina Conference. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Preston served faithfully in local churches across several conferences and districts, including North Carolina, Missouri West, North Georgia, and Western North Carolina. He also served as the National Executive Director of the Black Methodist Church Renewal (BMCR) - the Black Caucus of the United Methodist Church. Preston was a loving and supportive family man who found joy in gardening, reading, and going to the theater during the holidays. A lifelong Democrat, he participated in the 1960s sit-ins and civil rights movements in Salisbury, North Carolina. His spirit of service extended to his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, where he embraced the Alpha’s motto of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind for over 60 years as a proud Alpha Man of the Gamma Mu Chapter. Preston is survived by his beloved wife, Queen V. Jones, and their five children: Preston Carston Jones, Jr.; Valerie Helene Warfield (Guy); Sidney Aurelius Jones (Chandra); Manfred Eros Jones (Jehoshaphat, Jennifer); and Ezra Jones (Carolyn). Together, Preston and Queen V. also raised and cared for their nieces: Rachel Butler, Betty Butler, and Blanche Marie Butler. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his brother, William Nelson Jones (Merlin); many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Chanelle Allen-Jones (Cameron), Brandon Warfield, Ryan Warfield (T'mya), Cameron Jones, Shelby-Ann Jones, Jaylen Jones, Christian Jones, Madison Jones, Tyler Jones, Genevieve Jones, Julia Jones, Miles Jones, Mason Jones, Maxwell Jones, Cameron Allen-Jones, Jr., Puataunofo Allen-Jones, Brandon Warfield, Jr., Khari Warfield, Rhy'lei Warfield, Kahair Warfield, Sky Warfield, Delilah Lawrence; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and friends.

Funeral service will be held Friday, December 6, 2024 11:30am St. Matthews United Methodist Church 600 East Florida Street Greensboro, North Carolina. Visitation 11am.

Burial will follow at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery 3600 North O'Henry Boulevard Greensboro, North Carolina.

Reverend Preston Carston Jones, Sr., born on September 17, 1941, was the seventh child of the late Maggie Ross Jones and Carson Jones. He was preceded in death by his siblings Blanche Jones, Man Jones, Wilbert Jones, Catherine Jones, Sylvester Jones, Danny Jones, David Jones, Roscoe Jones, and Paul Jones. Preston was born and raised in Hoke County, North Carolina, where he accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age while attending Shady Grove Holiness Church. On November 27, 2024, Preston was called home to be with the Lord.

Preston graduated from Upchurch High School and Livingstone College. In 1963, he married the love of his life, Queen Vashti Billinger, at Boggs Academy in Keysville, Georgia, where he taught business education courses. At the time of his passing, Preston and Queen V. had been married 61 years and four days.

Inspired by Luke 4:18-19, Preston answered the call to ministry and continued his education at Duke University Divinity School. In 1969, he entered the ministry as a student pastor in the United Methodist Church. After completing the rigorous course curricula mandated by the church, he was ordained as a Deacon and later as an Elder in the North Carolina Conference. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Preston served faithfully in local churches across several conferences and districts, including North Carolina, Missouri West, North Georgia, and Western North Carolina. He also served as the National Executive Director of the Black Methodist Church Renewal (BMCR) - the Black Caucus of the United Methodist Church.

Preston was a loving and supportive family man who found joy in gardening, reading, and going to the theater during the holidays. A lifelong Democrat, he participated in the 1960s sit-ins and civil rights movements in Salisbury, North Carolina. His spirit of service extended to his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, where he embraced the Alpha’s motto of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind for over 60 years as a proud Alpha Man of the Gamma Mu Chapter.

Preston is survived by his beloved wife, Queen V. Jones, and their five children: Preston Carston Jones, Jr.; Valerie Helene Warfield (Guy); Sidney Aurelius Jones (Chandra); Manfred Eros Jones (Jehoshaphat, Jennifer); and Ezra Jones (Carolyn). Together, Preston and Queen V. also raised and cared for their nieces: Rachel Butler, Betty Butler, and Blanche Marie Butler.

In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his brother, William Nelson Jones (Merlin); many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Chanelle Allen-Jones (Cameron), Brandon Warfield, Ryan Warfield (T'mya), Cameron Jones, Shelby-Ann Jones, Jaylen Jones, Christian Jones, Madison Jones, Tyler Jones, Genevieve Jones, Julia Jones, Miles Jones, Mason Jones, Maxwell Jones, Cameron Allen-Jones, Jr., Puataunofo Allen-Jones, Brandon Warfield, Jr., Khari Warfield, Rhy'lei Warfield, Kahair Warfield, Sky Warfield, Delilah Lawrence; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and friends.