Radio host Rev. Michael K. Jones dies

The Rev. Michael K. Jones of Indianapolis' Progressive  Baptist Church and the successor to iconic talk-show host Amos Brown on WTLC-AM (1310) died at age 52 Tuesday of an apparent heart attack, said his sister, Marya Jones.

Liz Dixson, the station's community affairs director, and broadcaster Tony Lamont honored Jones on air Tuesday as they took calls from mourning community members while sharing their own memories of a person Dixson called a voice of the community.

Jones wasn’t a trained broadcaster, Lamont said, but that didn’t matter when he stepped in for Brown, the longtime African-American community leader in Indianapolis who hosted a show on WTLC for 11 years until his death at age 64 in November.

As a pastor, Jones was devoted to a myriad of social issues but primarily education and the improvement of police and community relations, Marya Jones said.

“I think from our parents, we learned God first, family and then service to others,” she said.

Jones addressed the issues he cared about with symposiums and forums at his church, his sister said, but he saw the radio show as another platform to spread his views to the community.

Jones made his own impact at WTLC despite being there for less than five months, Lamont said.

Jones brought his experience as a clergyman to the radio. He closed out his shows by saying, “I love you with a pastor’s heart,” Lamont said.

WTLC employees and representatives of Progressive Baptist Church did not return calls for comment Tuesday.

Several public figures including Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis, praised Jones for his community service.

"I am shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of my dear friend, Pastor Michael Jones," Hogsett posted on Facebook. "Like so many in Indianapolis, I first knew the Jones family through the work of Sam Jones, a civil rights activist and long-time President of the Indianapolis Urban League. Over the years, I had the honor of getting to know Pastor Jones as well, and was continually reminded of his dedication to our community through his work at Progressive Baptist Church and recently, as host of Community Conversations on AM1310."

Sam Jones, Michael's father, died in 2003.

Gubernatorial candidates John Gregg and Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb also posted statements.

"Pastor Michael Jones was a kind man and respected leader in IN," Gregg said on Twitter.

Holcomb said that Jones' "voice, works and passion will be terribly missed by the community."

Marya Jones described these and other condolences from the Indianapolis community as an “outpouring of love.” By Wednesday, she had received close to 300 phone calls and texts from people who knew her brother.

“To say that we’re overwhelmed is an understatement,” she said.

Jones was born in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 4, 1964,  but lived most of his life in Indianapolis, according to his church’s website.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in economics and a master’s of divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary before he becoming a pastor in September 1994.

Jones is survived by Marya, his mother Parthenia Jones, his brother Sam H. Jones, his sister-in-law Rhoda McKinney Jones, his nephew Kent McKinney Jones and his niece Joy Overby.

Stuart Mortuary is handling Jones' funeral arrangements.

Call IndyStar reporter Danielle Grady at (317) 444-6152. Follow her on Twitter: @dgrady1222.