[220] Jones hosted a reception for the delegation that evening at the central pavilion in Jonestown, during which Temple member Vernon Gosney passed a note meant for Ryan to NBC reporter Don Harris, requesting assistance for himself and another Temple member, Monica Bagby, in leaving the settlement. [81], In the immediate aftermath, rumors arose that surviving members of Peoples Temple in San Francisco were organizing hit squads to target critics and enemies of the church. Place of Birth : Oakland, California. Her As the Temple's membership grew, Jones created an armed security group to ensure order among his followers and to guarantee his own personal safety. "[29], Tim Reiterman, a journalist and biographer of Jones, wrote that Jones's attraction to religion was strongly influenced by his desire for a family. As parents watched their children perish from the poison, Rhodes described a scene of panic and confusion. Teacher, radio operator, administrator, accountant. His mother, Carolyn, and maternal Aunt, Ann Elizabeth Moore, were interred in Davis Cemetery in California. Jones told Lane that he wanted to "pull an Eldridge Cleaver", referring to a fugitive member of the Black Panthers who was able to return to the U.S. after rebuilding his reputation. [245] Another four members residing in Georgetown died. [1] Her father, John V Moore (19192019), was a Methodist minister and a conscientious objector during WWII. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. After some time passed, Jones informed his followers that it was only a drill and there was not any poison in their drink. Political pressures which resulted from Jones's actions caused hospital officials to desegregate the wards. [128] Marceline admitted in a 1977 New York Times interview that Jones was trying to promote Marxism in the U.S. by mobilizing people through religion. Biographies are our place to remember and discover more about the people important to us. [13], In mid-1977, the publication of a critical article in New West magazine prompted Jones to permanently relocate to the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project in Guyana. He was ordained as a Christian minister in the Independent Assemblies of God, attracting his first group of followers while participating in the Pentecostal Latter Rain movement and the Healing Revival during the 1950s. [106], Jones arrived in December 1963 to find Peoples Temple bitterly divided. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. After being "healed" the person would pretend to cough up their tumor, which was actually a chicken gizzard. Failed to report flower. Nov 12, 1898 - Jun 1982 . [18] His mother claimed that she was disturbed when she caught him imitating the pastor of the local Apostolic Pentecostal Church and she unsuccessfully attempted to prevent him from attending the church's services. Jones was disturbed by the treatment of the African Americans who were in attendance at a baseball game he attended in Richmond, Indiana. [86] In 1961, Jones suffered a collapse and was hospitalized. Weve updated the security on the site. [207][201] Through the White Nights, Jones convinced his followers that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was actively working to destroy their community and conditioned them to accept suicide as a means of escape.[210]. [78], Jones made a second visit to Father Divine in 1958 to learn more about his practices. In 1975, in the year that Jim Jon Prokes was born, in January, Popular Mechanics featured the Altair 8800 on it's cover. [114], Jones developed a theology influenced by the teachings of William Branham and the Latter Rain movement, Father Divine's "divine economic socialism" teachings, and infused with Jones's personal communist worldview. He informed the community that Ryan was dead and it was only a matter of time before military commandos descended on their commune and killed them all. What is Jim's ethnicity and where did his parents, grandparents & great-grandparents come from? Carolyn appeared to be a happy child, making friends at school and church. [74], Historians are divided over whether Jones actually believed his own teachings, or was just using them to manipulate people. Jones and Branham's meetings were very successful and attracted an audience of 11,000 at their first joint campaign. [97] Jones began to look for a way to escape the destruction he believed was imminent. [24] One Jones biographer suggested that he developed his unusual interests because he found it difficult to make friends. When she regained consciousness, she was told she had fallen and broken her arm and taken to the hospital. 75.0 years . [74] He increasingly used fear to control and manipulate his followers. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. "[8], Over the years, Carolyn continued to write letters to her family, extolling Jones' virtues and defending the relationship. Among the followers Jones took to Guyana was John Victor Stoen. [101] Careful not to portray himself as a communist, he spoke of an apostolic communal lifestyle rather than Marxism. The average age of Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. English Try again later. The hospital accidentally placed Jones in its black ward, and he refused to be moved; he began to make the beds and empty the bedpans of black patients. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? In 1960, Peoples Temple joined the Disciples of Christ denomination, whose headquarters was nearby in Indianapolis. BY ANCESTRY.COM. Bacterial pneumonia had completely destroyed his lungs within a matter of days. [189][190], In January 1977, Jones travelled to Cuba with Carlton Goodlett in order to establish an import-export trading relation with Cuba for a San Francisco Bay Area company that he had founded. Together, they informed the Moores that they were in love. As awareness reached the public, outsiders refused to accept Jones's attempt to blame them for the deaths. [73][125], Jones frequently warned his followers of an imminent apocalyptic nuclear race war. [186] Grace Stoen left Peoples Temple in 1976, leaving her child behind. On November 18, 1978, 909 people died in what was known as "revolutionary suicide." The deaths were the result of poisoning with toxic substances, such as potassium cyanide, Valium . Failed to report flower. [1][2][3] Jones was of Irish and Welsh descent; he and his mother both claimed to also have some Cherokee ancestry,[4] but there is no evidence of this. Religion : Family Tree : John Moore Family Tree . Death. On January 31, 1975, Carolyn gave birth to a son, Jim Jon Prokes nicknamed 'Kimo'. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jim Prokes (31101188)? About 140 of Jones's most loyal followers made the move to California, while the rest remained behind with Winberg. Jones recruited 50 new members to Peoples Temple in the first few months. Jones compared this schedule to the North Korean system of eight hours of daily work followed by eight hours of study. Learn more about managing a memorial . Diego State University. Jones was wildly cheered at a meeting of the NAACP and the Urban League when he encouraged his audience to be more militant, capping his speech with, "Let my people go!". Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? [4], Later that year, Carolyn resumed her responsibilities within the Temple. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jim Jon Kimo Prokes I found on Findagrave.com. "[124] Drawing on a prophecy in the Book of Revelation, he taught that American capitalist culture was irredeemable "Babylon". Thousands were sold in the first month. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. [127] Jeff Guinn said, "It is impossible to know whether Jones gradually came to think he was God's earthly vessel, or whether he came to that convenient conclusion to enhance his authority over his followers. Furthermore, Carolyn had a black eye and had started keeping a rifle beside her bed. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Jones described how he and his father had a disagreement about race and added that they had not spoken for "many, many years" as a result of his father forbidding one of Jones's black friends from entering his home. [243] The FBI later recovered the 45-minute audio recording of the mass poisoning in progress. Add Jim's family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. Financial issues and low attendance forced Jones to sell the Peoples Temple church building and relocate to a smaller building nearby. [8] Although his aunts and uncles lived close by and gave him some supervision, Jones frequently strolled his town's streets naked as a baby with no one watching over him. We have set your language to Welcome to AncientFaces, a com "Thank you for helping me find my family & friends again so many years after I lost them. Race : Caucasian. 1956 - 1978. Carolyn and Larry started church-shopping in Ukiah. [41] During his time at University, Jones was impressed by a speech which Eleanor Roosevelt delivered about the plight of African-Americans, and he began to espouse support for communism and other radical political views for the first time. Jones' news readings usually portrayed the U.S. as a "capitalist" and "imperialist" villain, while casting "socialist" leaders, such as Kim Il-sung,[183] Robert Mugabe,[184] and Joseph Stalin[185] in a positive light. [53] Jones was surprised by the endorsement, but gladly accepted the call to preach and rose to the podium to deliver a message to the crowd. Jones frequently warned his followers that there was an enemy seeking to destroy them. When you share, or just show that you care, the heart When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, a Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. John Victor Stoen died in Jonestown. This is a carousel with slides. This led Jones to leave and establish Wings of Healing, a new church that would later be renamed Peoples Temple. [94] They adopted a white son, originally named Timothy Glen Tupper (shortened to Tim), whose birth mother was a member of the Temple. Failed to delete memorial. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. OShea said, "One time Jim said to me 'Lets keep them poor and tired, because if theyre poor they cant escape and if theyre tired they cant make plans. [242][237] Furthermore, in a 2007 interview with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael H. Stone for the program Most Evil, Carter stated his belief that Jones had his guards pose the dead bodies of the Jonestown residents to make it appear that more people had willingly committed suicide. Jones held healing revivals there until 1955 and began to travel and speak at other churches in the Latter Rain movement. [54][58], Believing that the racially integrated and rapidly growing Latter Rain movement offered him a greater opportunity to become a preacher, Jones successfully convinced his wife to leave the Methodist church and join the Pentecostals. Jones had She also taught in Jonestown's high school. [73], Branham was a major influence on Jones who subsequently adopted elements of Branham's methods, doctrines, and style. The new home, where Jones grew up, lacked plumbing and electricity. UFC Champion punches and chokes comedian Jim Norton. Jones began dating a nurse-in-training named Marceline Baldwin while he was working at Reid Hospital. [49], Around this time in 1953, Jones visited a Pentecostal Latter Rain convention in Columbus, Indiana, where a woman prophesied that Jones was a prophet with a great ministry. "[201] "The Box" was a punishment devised by Jones involving a 6-by-4-by-3-foot (1.83 m 1.22 m 0.91 m) plywood coffin-shaped box in which a person was confined and held underground while they were constantly berated and reprimanded for their perceived slights against the cult. Jim Jon Prokes was the son of Jim Jones and Carolyn Louise Moore Layton. U.S. Representative Leo Ryan led a delegation to the commune in November of that year to investigate these reports. Then, over 900 people faithful to Jones imbibed cyanide-laced Fla-Vor-Aid and died. [126] Jones, through the Planning Commission, began controlling all aspects of the lives of his followers. Jones was particularly effective at recruitment among the African American attendees at the conventions. Jones and Moscone met privately with vice presidential candidate Walter Mondale on his campaign plane days before the 1976 election, leading Mondale to publicly praise the Temple. [138] At a banquet that evening, Jones's followers seized control of the event and Jones addressed Divine's followers, again claiming that he was Father Divine's successor. [87], In Indiana, Jones was criticized for his integrationist views. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Through the conventions and with the support of Branham and Mattsson-Boze, Jones secured connections throughout the Latter Rain movement. Jonestown had about 50 settlers at the start of 1977 who were expanding the commune, but it was not ready to handle a large influx of settlers. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Jim Jon Prokes. Please try again later. Also known as Kimo Layton. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. He frequently confronted them for drinking beer, smoking, and dancing. Learn more about merges. Age at Death : 3. [152], Jones had coworkers who called at the potential recruits homes, and asked detailed questions in the cover of doing an unrelated examination. ). Year should not be greater than current year. Jim Jones 1931 - 1978 . Jones called the entire community to the central pavilion. [115][71] Jones referred to his views as "Apostolic Socialism". [4], In 1974, Carolyn asked her parents if she could live with them in Berkeley for a few months; she was pregnant with Jones' child. One Temple member, Christine Miller, dissented toward the beginning of the tape. One man was forced into 'the box' underground where he stayed for days/weeks. Gender : Male. She is known for Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006), In Search . In Biographical Summaries of Notable People In 1978, in the year of Jim Jon Prokes's passing, on November 18th, Jim Jones's Peoples Temple followers committed mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana - where they had moved, from San Francisco, as a group. only Congressman believed to be assassinated in the line of To use this feature, use a newer browser. Jones claimed to be a follower and promoter of Branham's "Message" during the period. "Brave people who spoke out against the atrocities in Jonestown were taken to the 'medical unit' and put on coma inducing drugs," she said. as they were leaving Guyana. John was a pastor in numerous locales throughout Northern California, including Del Paso Heights, Hayward, and Chico. Jones explained that the poison was not real and that we had just been through a loyalty test. [152], Jones was fearful that his methods would be exposed by the investigation. This section is to introduce Jim Prokes with highlights of his life and how he is remembered. Add to your scrapbook. supporters. [132] Jones's control over the members of Peoples Temple extended to their sex lives and who could be married. Death 22 Nov 2006 (aged 54) South San Francisco, San Mateo County, California, USA. Kimo was sadly murdered during the Jonestown massacre in Guyana on November 18, 1978 at age 3. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. His wife Marceline apparently protested against killing the children; she was forcibly restrained and then joined the other adults in poisoning herself after the children had died. [117][116][118], Jones taught that "those who remained drugged with the opiate of religion had to be brought to enlightenment", which he defined as socialism. [110] Winberg took over leadership of the Indianapolis church when Jones departed. [14], Carolyn and Jones began to live together more openly in Jonestown, sharing a cabin. [11] As a result, Jones's parents were frequently absent during his childhood. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Try again later. Two more daughters were born: Rebecca (1951) and Annie (1954). [98], Jones made a stop in Georgetown, Guyana on his way to Brazil. "[204] Timofeyev declared Jonestown in "harmony of theory" with "Marx, Engels, Lenin" and the "practical implementation of some fundamental features of this theory," and personally thanked Jim Jones. Life Expectancy. [57], The Assemblies of God was strongly opposed to the Latter Rain movement. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. [156], Shortly after, eight members of Peoples Temple made accusations of abuse against the Planning Commission and Peoples Temple staff members. In contrast to his peers, Jones was known to dress in his Sunday church clothes every day of the week. 2 birth, 36 death, 15 marriage, 4 divorce, View [2] [134], Members who rebelled against Jones's control were punished with reduced food rations, harsher work schedules, public ridicule and humiliations, and sometimes with physical violence. He also permitted a few chosen members of his inner circle to eat from his personal supplies, and they appeared to be in much better health than the other residents. officer Mike Prokes. Thanks to their growing numbers, Jones and Peoples Temple played an instrumental role in George Moscone's election as mayor in 1975. Jim's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Prokes family tree. [249] Jones was found dead on the stage of the central pavilion; he was resting on a pillow near his deck chair with a gunshot wound to his head. Circle and one of his closest Moscone subsequently appointed Jones as the chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission.[24][140][141]. [231][a] Jones recorded the entire death ritual on audio tape. [213] Jones's orders were increasingly erratic. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Carolyn was sent to live with her grandparents back in California while her mother recovered. He was seen staggering and urinating in public, but this was due to prostatitis for a short time towards the end of Jonestown in late October 1978, not the entirety of Jonestown. In early 1954 Jones was dismissed from his position in the Methodist Church, ostensibly for stealing church funds,[56] though he later claimed he left the church because its leaders forbade him from integrating blacks into his congregation. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31289069/suzanne-honciano. In one event, Jones's mother was harassed by FBI agents in front of her co-workers because she had attended a communist meeting with her son. [26][23] Jones's mother usually beat him with a leather belt in order to punish his misbehavior. [191], In the autumn of 1977, Timothy Stoen and other Temple defectors formed a "Concerned Relatives" group because they had family members in Jonestown who were not being permitted to return to the United States. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Suzanne Honciano (31289069)? She worked for the summer as an elevator operator in San Francisco. [114], Explaining the nature of sin, Jones stated, "If you're born in capitalist America, racist America, fascist America, then you're born in sin. PROKES, Jim Jon (Kimo) Photos Courtesy of California Historical Society, MSP 3800 . "[52] Jones was surprised when a Methodist district superintendent helped him get a start in the church, even though he knew Jones to be a communist. Jones and the events that occurred at Jonestown have had a defining influence on society's perception of cults. There was some kind of school performance, and everybody's parent was there but mine. [214][215], After learning that he might have a lung infection in 1978, Jones told his followers that he actually had lung cancer in an effort to gain their compassion and increase their level of support. Jonestown whose bodies were autopsied upon arriving back to He was a guest speaker at a 1953 convention in Detroit. Did Jim finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters? [135], By the end of 1969, Peoples Temple was growing rapidly. [120] Jones referred to traditional Christianity's view of God as a "Sky God" who was "no God at all". Jones promoted the commune as a means to create both a "socialist paradise" and a "sanctuary" from the media scrutiny in San Francisco. Who were the people in Jim's life? The thought was, infiltrate the church. Jim passed away on month day 1978, at age 3. [229], The five killed at the airstrip were Ryan, Harris, Brown, San Francisco Examiner photographer Greg Robinson, and Temple member Patricia Parks. We were told that the liquid contained poison and that we would die within 45 minutes. Another Elmer Gantry. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. [24][40], Jones moved to Bloomington, Indiana in November 1948, where he attended Indiana University Bloomington with the intention of becoming a doctor, but changed his mind shortly thereafter. Try again later. Carolyn Louise Moore Layton was a leadership figure within Peoples Temple and a long-term partner of Temple leader Jim Jones. Jones created his own baptismal formula, baptizing his converts "in the holy name of Socialism". Many parents decided to keep their kids away from Jones as a result of the issue. Information Detail; Birthday: May 13, 1931: Died on: November 18, 1978: Nationality: American: Famous: Miscellaneous, Cult . While visiting Goodlett's business contacts and touring schools and other facilities, Jones was annoyed that President Fidel Castro had not consented to see him, and remarked that Castro had to be living better than the people. michael prokes was a television reporter in modesto, california, on the day in 1972 when he cracked open the phone book to dial jim jones at his house in redwood valley. [137], The event was successful, and Jones recruited about 200 new members for Peoples Temple. [82] Jones ignored Boswell's advice to keep a low profile, however, and he used the position to secure new outlets for his views on local radio and television programs. Her body was one of only seven out of the 909 casualties in Jonestown to be autopsied. [241] Peoples Temple's San Francisco headquarters was besieged by the media, angry protestors, and family members of the dead. A system error has occurred. 72 years shorter than Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office . There was a problem getting your location. There is a problem with your email/password. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. They also discussed his desire to return to the United States. Guyanese soldiers guarding the embassy refused to let them in after hearing about the shootings at the Port Kaituma airstrip. Others hid in the dormitories or were away from the community on business when the death ritual unfolded. [241], American Christian leaders denounced Jones as Satanic and asserted that he and his teachings were in no way connected to traditional Christianity. Bebelaar, Judy and Ron Cabral. [107] Possibly to distract Peoples Temple members from the issues facing their group, he told his Indiana congregation that the world would be engulfed by nuclear war on July 15, 1967, leading to a new socialist Eden on Earth, and that the Temple must move to Northern California for safety. [83], During his time as commission director, Jones helped to racially integrate churches, restaurants, the telephone company, the Indianapolis Police Department, a theater, and an amusement park, and the Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital.