July 17, 1934 – July 29, 2025

Remembering a Life of Dedication, Compassion, and Service

It is with great love and cherished memories, we share with you the passing of Willistene Jones, born July 17, 1934, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the middle child of three daughters to William Harold Frazier and Hazel Helen Hill. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Ruth Helen Thompson and Lois White. Willistene will be remembered for her quiet strength, resilience, and dedicated service to her family, community, and all those who knew her.

Growing up in a nurturing and faith-filled home, Willistene and her sisters were raised in the warm embrace of the Wesley Chapel Church. Her early years were shaped by the values of service, perseverance and compassion—virtues that would guide her through every chapter of her life. She attended South End grade school and Dunbar High School and later pursued her passion of caring for others by studying nursing at Arkansas Baptist College.

In 1954, Willistene’s adventurous spirit led her to St. Louis where she soon met and married John Robert Jones, Sr. Together they welcomed two sons; John Robert Jones, Jr. and Dewey Wendell Jones. Though their marriage eventually ended, she remained steadfast; raising her two boys in a close-knit St. Louis community as a devoted single mother. Her love and guidance were the foundation upon which her family flourished.

Her professional path was marked by her tireless work ethic and heart for service. She held positions at Incarnate Word Hospital and Barnes Hospital before transitioning to roles in U.S. Government, working diligently for the St. Louis Record Center and the U.S. Postal Services. Her career later brought her to the Social Security Administration; first at the Clayton, MO office then at the City of St. Louis SSA office where she served with dedication until her retirement in 1987.

Retirement did not slow her generous spirit. She found fulfillment working for Mount Grace Convent where she not only fellowshipped but also volunteered. She also extending her compassion for giving volunteering at the House of Goods while nurturing friendships that enriched her later years. In her later years, Willistene then settle into a peaceful and contented life in her home on Palm Avenue, where she continued to cherish her family, her faith, and the simple joys that made her life remarkable.

Willistene’s legacy lives on in the lives of her children: John Jr. (Laura; deceased) of Seattle, Washington and Dewey Wendell (Yvonne), of Florissant, Missouri; grandchildren: Gerald Issiah (De’Elma) of Atlanta, Georgia, Wendell Jerome of St. Louis, Missouri, Jon Arthur of Seattle, Washington and John DeMarco (Nila) of Omaha, Nebraska; great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as a host of close friends. She will be remembered for her enduring faith, her gentle kindness and the steadfast love she gave so freely. Her time with us has ended, but her spirit continues to inspire all those who knew her. She will be lovingly remembered and missed by so many.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to www.aspca.org.