On February 2, 1954, the day's highlight was not the groundhog seeing his shadow, but the birth of David Pinkney Jones in Youngstown, Ohio.  The youngest of four children born to the union of Samuel and Katherine Pinkney Jones, David was named after maternal grandfather, David Pinkney, a respected and revered politician in the Mahoning Valley.

David was reared in Westlake Terrace, next to the Negro YMCA on the city's north side, where he learned to swim, play basketball and table tennis.  He climbed trees collecting buckeyes to use as ammunition in the handmade slingshots that he would use to retaliate against whoever angered him.  He also enjoyed making tents, shooting cap guns and watching cartoons.

David was baptized as a Catholic at the age of 2 at St. Columbia Cathedral.  There he made the sacrament of Holly Communion, Confirmation and attended St. Columbia School from 1st to 8th grade.  He graduated from Ursuline High School in 1972.  Later in life, he was married at St. Columbia.

After graduating from high school, David worked in the steel mills in Youngstown before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1976.  After his honorable discharge in 1980, David moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended Cuyahoga Community College, majoring in business administration.  David pursued a career in the fast food industry for over 35 years.  He retired in 2018 as the Director of Franchise Development for Little Caesars Pizza.

David departed this life on August 1, 2020.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Katherine Pinkney Jones, and Samuel Jones.  He leaves to cherish his memory; his daughters; Ayanna (Frank) Etter, Davina Smith, his sons; Jerry (Patricia) Thomas and DeVon Ross, Jr., his grandchildren; Michael Walker, Kwnisha Jerry Thomas, J-Kisha Thomas, Caleb Wilson, Frank Etter, II., DeVon Ross, Jr., and Skylar Ross, his siblings; Cherrylane (Brian) Jones Williams, Timothy (Sandra) Jones, Alison (Robert) Harmon, Annette Thomas, Sandra (Sam) Gilmore, Richard Smith, Darrell (Shondra) Thomas and Samuel Jones, Jr., a great aunt, Geraldine Ingram, aunts,  Betty Pinkney and Willa Jones.

His grandsons and nephews were his pride and joy.  He spent countless hours talking and showing them about the "Hard Knocks" of life.  He encouraged them to work hard, take care of their families and commit to a purposeful life.  He watched sporting events and played an occasional game of basketball with them.  Also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other loving relatives and friends.

Mr. Jones will lie in repose on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at Cobb's Funeral Home 151 Orchard Lake Road., Pontiac, Michigan.  Funeral services will be held at Jaylex Event Center 2110 Glenwood Ave, Youngstown, Ohio at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2020., family hour will start at 9 a.m. prior to the service.  Final arrangements made by James Washington Funeral Home in Youngstown, Ohio.

As a global concern about Coronavirus (COVID-19) begins to have a impact on our community, we are taking necessary steps to ensure the safety of the families we serve and the community in general.  Some families are making the decision to postpone services while others have opted to move forward with a small gathering of close family and friends.

It is Cobb's Funeral Home policy, which lines up with the restrictions of our governor, Gretchen Whitmer, that all gatherings are limited to 20 people with a distance of 6 feet.

May God continue to bless and strengthen all of you during this time.