Mr. Jones was born in Baltimore and raised in Monkton. He attended Towson High School and began working as a farm laborer in his youth.

He became a traveling groom for several years on the thoroughbred racing circuit before going to work as a landscaper for Maryland Properties Inc., a company that maintains the Hunt Valley facilities of McCormick & Co.

In 1979, Mr. Jones established Jones Landscaping and operated the business until retiring in 1999.

“It was the first black-owned landscaping business in Baltimore County,” said his wife of 48 years, the former Naomi Wilkerson.

Mr. Jones enjoyed working in his garden and handling landscaping projects at his home.