Hundreds gather to honor the life of professor, mentor, and public servant

Clifford Jones ‘encouraged those around him to aspire to do great things’

Many within Messiah’s community trace important developments in their personal and professional lives to the influence of Clifford Jones. His ability to mentor and help others set and achieve goals will be missed by countless people connected to the College as well as to the Harrisburg area.

Click here to read two alumni tributes to Cliff Jones

Approximately 800 guests gathered in Brubaker Auditorium at Messiah College on Monday, May 12, to honor the life of Clifford Jones, who died May 7 at age 80. The public memorial service, which was hosted by the College, testified to the widespread influence of Jones, who taught at Messiah as an adjunct faculty member, mentored countless interns and graduates, and established a scholarship fund for students interning in central Pennsylvania.

Mike True, director of Messiah’s internship center, says of Jones, “His desire was for students to see and experience the work world up close.” As a mentor, Jones introduced many students, such as Ryan Keith ’02, to the professional world. Keith, who launched the non-profit organization Forgotten Voices with the help of Jones, says, “Cliff Jones helped me learn what it means to be a leader and reminded me that leadership is about sweat, tears, and hard work.”

Randy Ness, director of volunteer and church relations at the College, says that Jones was a man with a big persona and large vision, who “encouraged those around him to aspire to do great things to serve others.” In recognition of his many contributions to Messiah’s community, as well as a lifetime of public service, Jones received the Alumni Appreciation Award in October 2007.

 —Rebecca Buckham ’05