O.T. Jones, 85, retired bishop

Ozro Thurston "O.T." Jones Jr., 85, of West Philadelphia, a member of the governing board of the Church of God in Christ, a predominantly black Pentecostal denomination with seven million members worldwide, and senior pastor of Holy Temple Church of God in Christ at 60th and Callowhill Streets until 2000, died of heart failure Jan. 9 at Lankenau Hospital.

Bishop Jones was born in Fort Smith, Ark., the eldest son of Orzo Thurston Jones Sr., also a bishop in the church until his death in 1972. When he was a boy, his family moved to West Philadelphia, where he lived until his death.

After graduating in 1940 from Overbrook High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in sociology from Temple University.

He also earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in sacred theology from Temple's school of religion and philosophy.

In 1941, he was appointed by his father as leader of approximately 800 young people at the Holy Temple church, where he organized youth groups.

In 1950, after completing his degrees, he became a missionary of the church in Liberia.

In 1953, Bishop Jones was ordained and named pastor of the Memorial Church of God in Christ in Bryn Mawr. When his father died, Bishop Jones took over as head of the Church of God in Christ in West Philadelphia, which at its height had about 3,000 members.

He married Regina Shaw, a Philadelphia public school principal, in 1957, and the couple raised twin sons in West Philadelphia.

"His family occupied a second position to the church. As a husband and father, he was a gentle person, a compassionate man," his wife said. "He allowed his sons to pursue the careers of their choice. They both chose the U.S. Air Force and are pilots. My husband was proud of them."

"The bishop lived a monastic life," said Guy Glimp, pastor of the Sanctuary Church of God in Christ in East Mount Airy. "On a typical day, he rose early to study scripture and then went out among his people in the neighborhood for inspiration.

After mounting the pulpit on Sundays and delivering powerful oratory, he visited the sick, counseled young people with addiction problems, and was in his office often so people in need knew where to find him. He spoke directly and found something good in each person."

In addition to his wife and his sons, Col. Soren Jones and Maj. Stephen Jones, Bishop Jones is survived by two grandchildren; two brothers; and two sisters.

Friends may visit at 2 p.m. today at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ, followed by a funeral service at 7. Another funeral service will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Mount Airy Church of God in Christ, Stenton and Ogontz Avenues. Burial will follow at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd.