Laurance Jones III, the brother of Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, died unexpectedly Thursday. He was 60 years old.
Jones had served on the Clay Center Board of Directors since July 2008, following his appointment to the board by then-Gov. Joe Manchin. He also chaired the board's Program Committee.
"He's been a very active board member and was dedicated to the mission of the Clay Center," Al Najjar, the center's president and CEO, said Friday.
Najjar said Jones attended the Clay Center's board meeting Thursday morning.
Danny Jones did not want to comment Friday on his brother's death.
Laurance Jones was a resident of Looneyville, in Roane County, said his cousin, Andrew Jordon, of Charleston. While attending George Washington High School, Jones worked at a service station on Bridge Road, where he earned the nickname "Wrench," Jordon said.
"As a kid, I remember he would stop by my house on the way to George Washington and give me a ride to school," Jordan said. "It was always an adventure going to school with Laurance."
Jones also spent time as a dealer at a casino in Las Vegas and also worked as a radio disc jockey, Jordon said.
While he had no children of his own, Jones was an avid supporter of the Childhood Language Center in Charleston, where he also served on the board.
"He was very generous to things he was passionate about," Jordon said, noting that Jones had his own struggles with speaking when he was a child.
Jones also was involved with the Scottish Rite Temple, in Charleston, and enjoyed traveling and playing golf, Jordon said.
Funeral arrangements were not known Friday night.