A brilliant and prolific voice was silenced when Hari Jones passed away in Washington D.C. on June 22, 2018. Jones was a national treasure whose body of work enriched the lives of those both in the private and public sectors.

Born November 1, 1958 in Pauls Valley, OK., Jones was a precocious and exceptionally bright child. A natural and accomplished athlete, he ran track, wrestled and played football both in middle and high school. He graduated from Pauls Valley High School in 1976, where soon after he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Throughout his tenure in the Marine Corps, Jones held several positions consisting of infantryman, artillery officer, and intelligence officer. He successfully served a total of 21 years within the Marine Corp reaching the ranks of Staff Sergeant and ultimately Captain prior to his retirement. While serving in the military, he also earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Post military is where Jones truly began his life's work and calling. His passion to educate people on the vital roles African Americans assumed during the Civil War reverberated throughout the academia and media worlds. Jones' extensive resume garnered him the respect and attention he acquired as well as a sought after authority figure and expert on African American Civil War history.

Some of his past work and/or positions included:
Served as Assistant Director and Curator at the African American Civil War Freedom Foundation and Museum in Washington, D.C.
Acted as an independent history consultant for various national projects
Served on the Board of Directors of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA Prolific and award-winning lecturer having earned national attention and recognition for his lecture series entitled: "The Lost Story"
Content developer for the National Park Service (NPS) Museum at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Tuskegee, AL as well as content developer for the American Civil War Center exhibit: "Take Our Stand"
Content adviser for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) exhibit: "Discovering the Civil War"

In addition to Jones' impressive career as a history consultant and content developer/adviser, he appeared in over 50 television programs and documentaries in the likes of: CSPAN, FOX News, PBS, American Heroes Channel, History Channel, Smithsonian Channel along with appearances on many other national outlets.

Some of his most notable television appearances entailed: "Who Do You Think You Are?" (episode featuring actress and singer, Vanessa Williams) "Legends and Lies" (Executive Producer- Bill O'Reilly)
"The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross," hosted by Henry Louis Gates (Peabody Award)

In all that Jones accomplished, he would say his greatest role was being a father and grandfather to his late daughter Julia Jones and son, Earnest Harold Lomax Jones, age 13; and granddaughters Ania Jones, age 15; and Lyric Jones, age 11. He served his family much like he served his country with unwavering loyalty and compassion. His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy; and what inspired his passion to build the legacy he left for not only his son and grandchildren, but for the world.

So many of you have expressed your condolences and have inquired how you can bless his family during this difficult time. We are asking in lieu of flowers, if you would consider making a donation to this Gofundme page where we can help provide financial support for his son and grandchildren which he leaves behind. Your contributions would help absorb some of the expenses that come with raising children as well as ease some of the financial burden his absence brings to his immediate family.

This Gofundme page was also created to help further the legacy and mission of Hari Jones as his work was just beginning. Many projects were in development with respect to his lecturing, consulting, and literary work as well as the work he was doing prior to his recent death for the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, IL.

His ultimate goal was to enlighten, educate, and elevate the minds of those whose path God afforded him to cross. His legacy of telling the important untold stories about our American History was a gift many of us were blessed to sit at a table, auditorium or in our living rooms to hear; it is our hope through your generosity that generations to come can also have that same opportunity to hear one of the greatest voices of our time.

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” —Abraham Lincoln

Jones certainly lived a life that counted and with your help we can continue to make it count for future generations.

GoFundMe.com/Hari-Jones