Richmond, Virginia, Councilman Michael Jones recently surprised longtime girlfriend June Cober, an Atlantic Records director of promotions, by popping the question during a ruse.
Jones, who also pastors the city’s Village of Faith church, lured Cober to a public park for what she thought was going to be the filming of a video to promote an upcoming church. During the filming, Jones surprised everyone when he went off-script and began to propose to Cober, who tearfully accepted.
“June and I are happy that our two families are uniting as one,” Jones said. “God has given me a new daughter [Laila, 8], and He has given June both a new son [Jalon, 17] and daughter [Jocelyn, 20]. We are tremendously blessed to find love and are super excited about taking on the world together.”
The couple plans to wed in 2019.
“I fell in love with Mike as a cheerleader for the work he does in the community and all he represents,” said Cober, who has worked with Jones on many of his professional and philanthropic endeavors. “He’s a rare and special man, I can’t wait to work hand in hand with him as his wife.”
After the proposal video was shown during one of Jones’ Sunday morning services, the congregation erupted into rapturous applause.
“I don’t believe I have ever witnessed the end of a Sunday morning service that was so emotional and wonderful,” said Earnest Pugh, a Stellar Award-nominated recording artist who is senior worship leader at the Village of Faith. “The congregation and I stood in awe as Pastor Jones played the video of the proposal as he was about to dismiss the service. The whole place went into praise. I can only imagine the wedding, which I know will be an epic time of celebration and fellowship.”
