Kenneth Vann Jones, Jr.

Kenneth “Ken” Vann Jones, Jr. entered this life on June 15, 1967, the first-born child of Kenneth Vann Jones, Sr. and Mary Deloris Johnson.  The following year, Ken became a big brother and protector of his little sister, Michelle.  Ken held a special place in the heart of the family being the only son, the first-born grandchild of the dearly departed Henry Vinnie and Faye Consula Jones and the first-born, among ten grandchildren, of the dearly departed Lincoln and Mary Virginia Moore.  In 1983, Ken became a member of a blended family affectionately referred to by its members as the “924 Crew”, under the guidance of “the parents” Donzell and Mary Johnson. 

At the age of thirteen, Ken professed his faith in Jesus Christ and joined Temple Baptist Church under the spiritual guidance of the Rev. Dr. Michael Lee Graves.  He was an active member of the Temple youth group and youth choir where he first developed his love for singing. 

During his high school years, Ken was selected as a Telluride Scholar and spent a summer at Cornell University with other gifted students from across the United States in a program emphasizing intellectual curiosity.  As a result of his participation in INROADS of Nashville, Ken became focused on engineering as a potential career path. He was later selected to participate in a summer program for engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Ken graduated from John Overton High School in 1985 as a National Merit Scholar and attended Northwestern University on academic scholarship. He spent two years at Northwestern University before transferring to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he earned both a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (1990) and a Master’s degree in Marketing (1992). 

Before returning to Nashville in 2017, Ken spent 20 years in the Atlanta, Georgia area where he taught math and science at The Lovett School, Whitefield Academy, and Shorter College while building his own business as an academic coach and private tutor. He served numerous families, oftentimes, serving multiple children in the same family for consecutive years. 

For the last four years, Ken shared his gifts with students at Lipscomb Academy where he worked in the EQUIP Program.  He saw potential in every student and knew he could help students reach their highest and best achievements.  For so many students and their families, Ken was said to be a “Godsend” or a “Lifesaver”. 

Ken will be remembered for his many talents not the least of which was a velvet voice that on Thursday, March 9, 2023, joined the heavenly choir of angels in the house of the Lord to sing forever.  To cherish his memory, he leaves his mother, Mary Deloris Johnson; his father, Kenneth V. Jones, Sr.; his sister, Michelle Jones Long (Mackey); his nephew, Mackey “Trey” Long, III; his niece, Madison Elyse Long; a blended family of siblings, nieces and nephews; a host of cousins, life-long friends and colleagues.  To continue his legacy, he leaves every student he ever helped!

In Lieu of flowers and to continue Ken's legacy of supporting the academic excellence of students, donations can be made to the Lipscomb Academy Good Samaritan Fund at Make a Gift to Lipscomb Academy - Lipscomb University https://community.lipscomb.edu/giveto-academy.  Please add Ken's name to the donation in the "In Memory of" section