Allen Oscar Jones (1937-2019) was born in Conyers, Georgia, to Oscar (1893-1939) and Grace Jones (1898-1975) and had five older siblings: Ruth Gregory (1919-1982), Vera Rumbley (1921-2008), Fred H. Jones (1923-2004), William K. Jones (1926-1994), and Boyce A. Jones (1930-2013). The family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, during his childhood and lived at 225 Elmyra Place between the Little Five Points and Candler Park neighborhoods. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1960 then served in the United States Air Force Reserve until 1965. Between 1963 and 1965 he served as president and chairman of the Georgia Federation of Young Republicans. He married Helen Suzanne Derrick (1944- ?) in 1968 and they divorced within six months. Afterward, he lived as an openly gay man and had several long-term relationships.

Jones worked in investment banking, real estate development, and financial consulting with groups including the Financial Service Corporation and ARI Consultants. In 1977 he opened Shelly's Bar and Restaurant at Peachtree and 25th Streets, an openly gay establishment. In 1992 he founded the Atlanta Executive Network (later called the Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals), a professional networking organization for the LGBTQ+ community, and served for five years as its first president. Throughout his life, he was active in several charitable organizations that supported individuals living with HIV/AIDS, including Helping Hands of Atlanta, Project Open Hand, Project Outreach, and Jerusalem House.