William H. Jones

Published 5:01 pm Friday, May 6, 2022

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UNIVERSITY PARK, MD – William Howard Jones was born on May 25, 1946 and passed away peacefully at his home in University Park, Maryland on April 28, 2022.

Howard was born to Tupper W. and Pearlene C. Robbins Jones in Cofield, North Carolina. He grew up and worked on the family farm and in his family’s store, T.W. Jones General Merchandise in Cofield. While at the store he repaired radios.

He attended and graduated from C S Brown High School in 1964 and was a member of the National Honor Society. In 1968, Howard graduated Summa Cum Laude from Howard University and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. In 1969, he graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master’s Degree in Mathematics. His professor at Howard University, James Joseph, had become the chairman of the Mathematics Department at the University of the District of Columbia and invited Howard to teach there. Thus began a career at UDC that lasted over 40 years. He also was an Adjunct Professor of Mathematics at Howard University and tutored as a volunteer.

Awarded with a Danforth Fellowship, Howard took a four-year sabbatical from UDC to pursue doctoral studies at Stanford University in 1977. Having taken a television repair course, he also worked at a television store in Palo Alto in its repair department, and was proud of his ability to build and repair all sorts of things.

Howard married Berhan Kahsay of Ethiopia on January 12, 1989, and they made a happy and loving life together in Washington, D.C. and University Park, Maryland.

Howard was a man of character, who was known not only for his bright intelligence, but even more for his kindness, quick wit and fairness. Always willing to lend a helping hand, he was constant in his loyalty and devotion to his loved ones and friends.

Howard is survived by his beloved wife, Berhan Kahsay-Jones; his siblings, Douglas E. Jones of San Antonio TX, E. Laverne Jones of New York City, and Marvin Tupper Jones (Carol Joice Jones) of Washington, D.C.; his niece Joyce L. Jones and nephew Atakilti Gebremedhin (Birikty Hagos); his godson Senai Gebremedhin; and other nieces and nephews of his wife Berhan.

We are all blessed and grateful to have had Howard as husband, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SOME (So Others May Eat), 71 O Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.

Please share a tribute by completing the ‘Share a Memory’ field at www.COLLINSFUNERALHOME.com.”