Jones was born on September 13, 1943, in
El Paso, Texas, the son of Charles Irving Jones Jr. and Helen A. Heyward. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1965 and a Master of Business Administration from the
University of North Carolina in 1966. He also graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1977 and with a Doctor of Divinity in 1989 from the
University of the South. He worked as a public accountant with D.E. Gatewood and Company in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina between 1966 and 1972. In 1972, he became Director of development at Chatham (Virginia) Hall, while in 1974, he became an instructor of accounting at the
University of the South, retaining the post until 1977. From 1977 until 1981 he was College chaplain at
Western Kentucky University and Vicar of Trinity Church in
Russellville, Kentucky from 1977 until 1985. He was also Archdeacon of Kentucky from 1981 until 1986, when he was elected Bishop of Montana. ==Resignation==