Maurice C. Jones
CPA was Morgan State graduate and the founder of MCJ & Associates; also a die-hard football fan
Maurice C. Jones, a CPA, founder of MCJ & Associates and a lifelong football fan, died Sept. 11 of complications from diabetes at his Loch Raven Village home. He was 43.
Maurice Cey Jones, son of Calvin Jones, a Verizon technician, and his wife, Roslyn Jones, a Social Security Administration supervisor, was born in Baltimore and raised in Loch Raven Village.
A talented athlete, Mr. Jones was captain of the varsity football team at Lake Clifton High School, where he was affectionately called “Black” by his fellow players.
An affinity for numbers — his favorite being three — led Mr. Jones to enroll in the Academy of Finance program at Lake Clifton, from which he graduated in 1995 as salutatorian.
Mr. Jones was a business and finance major at Morgan State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2000. To make extra money while a student at Morgan, he charged $20 to type term papers for classmates and “as an adult, he quickly became everyone’s favorite tax guy. As a CPA, he made sure you never missed a deduction or tax deadline,” according to a biographical profile submitted by his family.
In 2013, he received a master’s degree in business administration from the Johns Hopkins University.
Mr. Jones worked as an accountant at JCM Control Systems, a Lutherville HVAC contracting firm, for a decade and later became CFO of Parkinson Construction Co., where he worked for 14 years. Two years ago, he established his own accounting firm, MCJ & Associates, in Loch Raven Village.
“Maurice was in his final year at Morgan and we thought it would be beneficial to bring him on and while strengthening him, would strengthen our business,” said Sylvia Matthews, his aunt, who is also vice president of JCM Control Systems.
Josh Matthews, an uncle, is the company’s president.
“Maurice was very conscientious and never said that he couldn’t do something. If it didn’t have an answer, he’d do the research and find one. He always made things happen,” Mr. Matthews said. “He always had a vision for bigger things and moving them forward and was an excellent team player. And when he had an idea, he was adamant about getting his point across.”
Said his aunt: “I often felt he had too much on his plate. He was always up and at it from morning until late in the evening, when he was still at it. We’d have to remind him that he had a family.”
“His problem was that Maurice couldn’t ever say no,” his uncle said. “He had such a bright future.”
“He was a very smart and intelligent man,” said Nigel Parkinson Sr., president and CEO of Parkinson Construction Co., headquartered in Brentwood and Washington. “He came from a tough environment and as an African American, I wanted to take him in and mentor him, and he listened to me. Young African Americans need mentors, and I like mentoring them.”
In addition to his own practice, last month Mr. Jones was named CFO of AAiH Insite Holdings and Jade Point Capital Partners.
“Maurice was referred to us by one of our partners, and he attended a partners’ meeting and fit in real well. We were particularly impressed by his resume and demeanor, and he worked well with the group,” said Robert Queen, CEO of the Silver Spring firm.
“He was very friendly and supportive and just a very good person,” said Mr. Queen, a Temple Hills resident. “He clicked the moment we connected, and even though he was only here a short time, he will be greatly missed. His death was quite a shock.”
It was an errant email that brought his future wife, the former Qiana Holmes, into his sphere.
In 2009, she accidentally messaged the wrong Maurice Jones, whom she had found online, and while Mr. Jones didn’t know Ms. Holmes, after seeing a picture of her, he realized he wanted to.
“He kept sending me messages,” Ms. Jones said with a laugh.
After the couple realized they shared several friends, they began dating, fell in love and were married in 2012.
Eager to share his knowledge and expertise and help others achieve professionally, Mr. Jones joined the BaltimoreColumbia Graduate Chapter of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc. in 2005 and later became the organization’s treasurer.
In 2010, he also became a member of St. James Lodge 2 of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland.
In addition to being an avid Ravens fan, Mr. Jones enjoyed outdoor activities such as parachuting and bike riding, and was an enthusiastic bowler.
Funeral services were held Sept. 18 in the Grand Heritage Chapel and Mausoleum at King Memorial Park Cemetery in Windsor Mill.
Mr. Jones is survived by his wife of eight years, owner of Big Headz 3-D Customworld, a digital printing business; two sons, Mikell Jones of Loch Raven Village and Darrian Jones of Greenville, North Carolina; a daughter, Briana Jones of Loch Raven Village; his parents, Calvin and Roslyn Jones of Loch Raven Village; four brothers, Calvin Jones of Randallstown, Nathan Jones of Owings Mills, and Lamar Jones and Alex Jones, both of Loch Raven Village; and two sisters, Sierra Jones of Owings Mills and Sheena Jones of New York City.