Mr. Dero Jones Sr.

Dero Jones, Sr. was born April 19, 1929 to the late Mary Lou Jones. He departed this life on January 3, 2015 at Oktibbeha County Regional Hospital. He confessed Christ at an early age at St. Paul M. B. Church where he was a life-long member and served faithfully until his death. For his Christian Education, Dero was a certified instructor for the Northeast State Congress, Whitefield District Association, and the Usher Board Union. He was the moderator of the Whitefield District, President of the Ministers and Deacons Council, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School Teacher, Laymen Ministry, Willing Workers’ Society, and President of the Baptist Training Union which was established under the leadership of Rev. Arthur Townsend. Under the Whitefield District, Dero assisted many churches in establishing their Baptist Training Union programs. He was ordained as a deacon under the leadership of Rev. M. R. Green in 1954. As a deacon, he assisted in several capacities in the up keep of the church. Deacon Jones was a counselor for the Bill Glass Crusade which was held in Starkville, MS. He was a member of the Community Prayer Band where many souls were saved and healed. The value of education was instilled and engraved in his mind at a very young age; as such, he attended grammar school at Pleasant Grove Robinson, and later attended and graduated from Oktibbeha County Training School in 1949. He taught classes at Oktibbeha County Training School during his senior year of high school. Deacon Jones had great compassion for the people in the community and he saw their many needs. Therefore, he was moved to take action. He served on the Board of Prairie Opportunity where he later became Deputy Director. Under his leadership, Prairie Opportunity purchased their first Head Start Bus. He helped established the Title I Funding Program with programs such as the Reading Program, Summer Work Program, and Summer School Programs. He assisted the community by serving on the Trim Cane Water Association, Oktibbeha County Voting Poll, The Democrat Caucus, and the Water & Soil Conservation. He assisted with the building of the Bell Schoolhouse Fire Station. He was employed by Clark Dairy Farm, J.C. Penney, and Mississippi State University for many years. On June 12, 1949, Dero was united in holy matrimony to the late Magnolia Russell Jones. To this union thirteen children were born. To carry on his legacy, Dero leaves thirteen children. Nine daughters: Linda (deceased /Robert) Yeates; Ann (divorced/Robert) Rice; Priscilla (Bernard) Brown; Marcella (Larry) Tipton; Debora (James) Brown; Darlene (Gregory) Perkins; Trudy (Patrick) Lawrence; and Tamara (John) Lowe; all of Starkville; Cathleen (Raymond) Poe, of Pheba, MS; four sons: Dero (Justine) Jones,Jr. of Lyon, MS; Patrick (Jennifer) Jones of Fulton, MS; Dexter (Linda) Jones and Jed (Charlene) Jones of Starkville, MS. He also leaves three sisters: Ida (Agene) Reives of Maben, MS; Katie (Jake) Johnson of Eupora, MS; and Lizzie (deceased/Bennie) Cook of Starkville, MS; one sister-in-law, Julia (deceased/ Thomas) Jones of Pearl, MS; and one uncle, Freddie Perkins of Starkville, MS. He also leaves 39 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Dero was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Magnolia Russell Jones; grandparents, Willie and Ida McDowell; mother, Mary Lou Jones; sister, Allie V. Robinson, brother Thomas Jones Sr., and one grandson David F. Brown. Deacon Jones favorite motto was, “Stand until they prove you wrong.”

Mr. Dero Jones Sr.

April 19, 1929 - January 3, 2015