The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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December 21, 2009

Funeral services today for businessman, civil rights leader

HUNTSVILLE — Funeral services for Huntsville native and businessman Willie Jerry Jones Sr. will be held at 11 a.m. today at Family Faith Church.

Burial will be in Rawls Cemetary on state Highway 19 in Huntsville. Cox Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jones, who was born Jan. 4, 1925, in Huntsville, died Dec. 16.

More commonly known as “Jerry,” Jones was well respected by all who knew him and known for his many contributions to those in need in Walker and surrounding counties.

A graduate of Samuel Walker Houston High School, Jones enlisted in the United States Navy before graduation, and was deployed to serve at Pearl Harbor during World War II.

In 1943, he married Mary B. Travis.

Upon his return to Huntsville, after his honorable discharge, he attended Mary Allen College and Texas Southern University.

While attending college, he worked as a barber and was an agent for Atlanta Life Insurance Co. In 1958, he would open Jerry’s Barber Shop on Avenue M in Huntsville.

His wife, Mary B., would join him as a cosmetologist and his shop became known as Jerry’s Barber and Beauty Shop.

In 1961, he organized and received the charter for the NAACP in Walker and Trinity counties where he and his wife were lifetime members.

He was elected president of the branch and immediately made requests to remove “White Only” signs from public facilities.

In 1965, he and his wife received and a special invitation to attend the inauguration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Also active in civic and political affairs, he was the first black candidate to run for county office in Huntsville.

He won the Democratic primary election for county commissioner but was defeated in the runoff election by 52 votes.

Later, he would own and operate Willie Jerry Jones Sr. Insurance and Bail Bond Agency in Huntsville.

While owner of the agency, he employed and empowered his own family members, church members, college students and many members of the community.

His office of over 25 years shares the parking lot with St. James United Methodist Church where he was a member.

Preceding him in death are father, Jerome Jones; mother, Jerline McGuire Mott; and wife, Mary B. Jones.

He is survived by two sons, Willie Jerry Jones Jr. and Robert Jerome Jones Sr.; two daughters, Darlene J. Price and Diane J. Mitchell; 12 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

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