Brian Jones

Brian Clinton Jones was born the afternoon of January 14, 1955, in Brooklyn, NY, as the firstborn of Dr. James Clinton Jones and Elva Heastie Jones. During the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, Brian moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he became an early adopter of philosophies later associated with the Black Panther Party and Black Power Movement. As a child, one could always find him deep in thought or enthralled with a book. As he developed into adulthood, Brian expressed a knack for business, displaying an astute diligence for finance. Brian had a dynamic and successful career, serving in multiple senior financial leadership roles in various school districts across Southeast Michigan. Brian loved traveling, often visiting with college friends to maintain strong relationships as his life continued to evolve. Brian was deeply passionate about his Bahamian heritage and maintained a perfect attendance at his biannual extended family (Hanna, Heastie, Tynes) reunions in Florida and the Bahamas from 1982-2024. He also enjoyed visiting his grandchildren around the country and being present at their various academic and extracurricular milestones. Well into his early senior years, Brian began exploring other regions of the earth, including Portugal, Aruba, Ethiopia, China, and more intentionally, Egypt. During his several pilgrimages to Egypt, Brian joined famous scholar Ashra Kwesi’s Kemet Nu “Know Thyself” tour, which focused on the African origins of ancient Egypt (Kemet), its dynastic periods and more importantly, its spiritual systems. He found brotherhood in the Kemetic culture, where after years of study and commitment to his craft, he was given the auspicious name of “Kamose Kheperkara.” Brian “Kamose Kheperkara” Jones passed away peacefully on July 15, 2026, in the hands of his daughter Tamara Jones and son-in-law Trey Avant, after a brief but courageous battle with advanced lung cancer. He is survived by his fiancé, Donna Morton; loving mother, Elva Heastie Gamble; siblings, Judy, Jackie, Gerald, and Venita; seven children (Kristen, Justin, Tamara, Brandon, Andrew, Reggie and Victoria); thirteen grandchildren (Sovereign, Pheonix-Skye, Samson, Seraphina, Aura, Lila, Gabrielle, Savannah, Alyssa, Austin Brian, Ashley, Xavier, Josiyah) and many others who viewed him as a father figure, including sons- and daughters- in law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in his transition by his father, James Clinton (1998) and his brothers, Carlton (2024) and Jimmy (2025) He firmly believed that death is a transition, not an ending. He transitioned with confident faith that his soul will remain connected to his ancestors in the afterlife, and his current and future descendants. *In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests supporting the Wright Museum of African American History or the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).*

Brian Jones

January 14, 1955 - July 15, 2026