DETROIT -- The Rev. Odell Jones counted among his friends former President Bill Clinton, whom he counseled during his most turbulent times in the White House, and former Michigan Gov. James J. Blanchard, who said he was "enormously helpful in getting me elected governor."

The Detroit preacher was sharing a prayer breakfast with Clinton in 1998 when the president revealed he had sinned with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The Rev. Jones responded by convincing the other ministers with them at the White House to forgive the president on the spot. "(Clinton) looked at me and said, 'Now, that's 25 years of friendship,' " the Rev. Jones said in a 1998 interview with The Detroit News. "If he didn't get forgiveness ... I don't think he would want to be president."

The Rev. Jones, pastor of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit for 37 years, died of complications from diabetes on Friday, April 26, 2002, in St. John Hospital in Detroit. He was 69.

Blanchard said the Rev. Jones was a powerful man who used his influence wisely. "When I had to turn to someone to introduce Gov. Bill Clinton to Detroit as our future president, (the Rev. Jones) was the go-to guy to get things done," Blanchard said. "He was a loyal, honorable and remarkable person who was one of my favorite people for 20 years."

Blanchard said the Rev. Jones was passionate about making the world a better place. "In my eyes, he was a saint," Blanchard said. "He always treated people with dignity and respect and possessed a passion to create a better world. "I viewed him as more than a leading clergyman or a political ally. He made for a wonderful friend." His friendship with Clinton "was a natural bond," said the Rev. Jones' daughter, Yvette Shannon Jones. "He was always drawn to good-ol' down-home people, especially if they were from Arkansas." The Rev. Jones was born in Arkansas, where Clinton also was born and served as governor. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock and later became chairman of the college's board of trustees.

He earned his master's degree in religious studies from Virginia Union University in Richmond and his doctorate of ministry from Drew University in Madison, N.J.

The Rev. Jones, who served in the Air Force, was ordained in 1956 and moved to Detroit in 1965 to lead Pleasant Grove, a position he held until his death. His sermons often incorporated his children's travails and the tales of Frank the mule, which he worked as a youth on the family farm in Arkansas.

He was a staunch Democrat who loved politics. He was honored by a state Senate resolution in 1979 for his community service to Detroit, where he was a longtime activist for people in need. "He always believed Democrats served the people and Republicans only looked after their own money," his daughter said.

Survivors include his wife, Martha, and his two daughters, Alletha Jones and Yvette Shannon Jones. Visitation is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 13651 Dequindre in Detroit. A family hour is planned for 6 p.m. Friday at the church. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit.

You can reach Hawke Fracassa at (313) 222-2320 or hfracassa@ detnews.com.