Clergy and lay persons alike in the Bermuda Annual Conference of the AME Church are adjusting to the shocking news this past week of the death of the Rev. Arthur Samuel Jones at his home in Virginia. He had celebrated his 87th birthday only a fortnight before, August 8 to be exact.

Rev. Jones and his wife Erma came to Bermuda in 1957 to take over the pastorate of Allen Temple AME Church in Somerset. One of his most notable achievements before his reassignment just over four years later was building of the multi-purpose, two-storey auditorium and youth centre at the church, which had been named in his honour.

He will be remembered as a giant of a man. At 6 feet 4 inches tall, he was a natural leader who evidently excelled at almost everything he attempted. As a concert singer and protégé of the great Paul Robeson, he kept the old negro spirituals and classics alive. He will be particularly remembered for pairing with my late wife, soprano Ismay Philip, for recitals at the Anglican Cathedral Hall in Hamilton and at Paget Church Hall.

Wherever Rev Jones pastored he had a reputation as a playwright and director in organising drama clubs, thereby introducing many to the stage for the first time. One of the many young Bermudians he inspired during his relatively short tenure was Goodwin Douglas of Scott's Hill Road, Somerset. "Goodie", as he was well known, went off to college in the US and is now the Presiding Elder of the prestigious Capital District of the AME Church in Washington, DC; and he was a candidate for election to the AME Bishopric.

Rev. Douglas was one of the leaders who participated at the funeral of Rev. Jones. This columnist is grateful to Rev. Douglas for the following biographical notes on his spiritual father, citing him as a writer, preacher, pastor, civil rights activist and CEO.

Rev. Arthur Samuel Jones was born in Mebane, North Carolina on August 8, 1923 to the late Pinkney and Gertrude Jones. He was the youngest and last surviving child of eight siblings. He was a scholar and attended Kitrell College, Wilberforce University, and Payne Theological Seminary.

As preacher he was known for the dramatic yet scholarly nature of his sermons which were practical, inspiring, encouraging and brief. As a pastor he loved the AME Church and the people whom he was blessed to serve for 53 years. Rev. Jones wasn't "square" and could tell a good, clean joke better than most, and his hearty laughter could be heard in the next room.

He loved the music of the big band era; Ella, Nat, Sinatra and his main man, Ray Charles. He also loved the classical movies of the Forties and Fifties. He was perceptive enough to marry the lovely and queenly Erma Vashti Knight within three weeks of meeting her. Their union lasted 67 years and produced two sons: Arthur and Joseph. Erma joined her husband and supported him on his ministry journey. Together they shared many adventures in the United States and abroad as he pastured churches in Rhode Island, Bermuda, Philadelphia, New Jersey and finally Third Street Bethel AME Church, Richmond, Virginia, which was his last pastoral assignment before entering retirement. He then joined Emmanuel AME Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and continued to be a joy and inspiration to that congregation.

Having built large multipurpose centres at both Allen Temple in Bermuda and Third Street Bethel, Arthur or "Sam" as his loving wife called him, was also active in the civil rights movement before it became popular, marching and traveling to Mississippi during the Freedom Riders era.

As head of T.E.A.M. in Newark, New Jersey in the late Seventies, Rev. Jones was responsible for a jobs programme with an annual budget of over a million dollars. He was very active in the growth of the AME Church and wrote many books and pamphlets related to the study of the Bible and the preparation of sermons. His most recent book was titled "The Birds, the Bees and the AMEs".

An author, humanitarian, and gentleman, Rev. Arthur Jones will be missed by his family, friends and all who were fortunate enough to know him. He lived his life as a man of God who tried to "help somebody along the way."