Reverend Louis F. Jones

Service for Reverend Louis Jones, 82, of Cleburne will be conducted at 10:00 A.M., Friday, Dec. 18, 2015 in the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The Reverend Russell O. Fuller, Sr., presiding Elder of the CME Church Ft. Worth district, will officiate; with the Reverend Donald J. Earl, eulogist. Burial will be in DFW National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Robert Jones, Oscar Wiley III, Nathaniel Craff, Marcus Wiley, Carl Smith, Wilford Clay, Jr., LaKeith Hodge, and Mitchell Gipson. Honorary pallbearers will be Gene Jackson, Eugene Jackson, Felix Vailant, Larry Jackson, and Retired Ministers of the C.M.E. Ft. Worth District. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M., Friday, at the church, prior to the service.

Reverend Louis Jones passed peacefully on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. He was born Jan. 25, 1933 in Cleburne to parents, Emmett and Elsie Mae Jackson Jones.

Louis was educated at Booker T. Washington School before adventurously enlisting himself into the United States Air Force at an early age. He served his country proudly until his honorable discharge.

Besides being a licensed barber, Louis was also a stellar car salesman in Houston. His giftedness and passion for this profession earned him the prestigious honor of being the first black general sales manager for Chrysler. He also earned a reputation for being a savvy salesman at Forrest Chevrolet and Jeff England Motors in Cleburne.

While still living in Houston, he met and married Lovie Gipson, a dedicated and loyal wife. He remained in that union until her death in 2013.

Having exchanged the city life (over 30 years ago), he returned to his home town, Louis experienced one of his major pinnacles in life by rededicating his life to Christ. He submitted to the call God had on his life and entered into the ministry, being ordained into the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Jones pastored a church in Stephenville before being assigned to Benson Chapel C. M. E. Church, where he pastored for 18 years in Ft. Worth until he retired. A church he loved and cherished dearly.

Rev. Jones has always been known for his wisdom, intelligence, and sense of humor. He did not have a problem being transparent and sharing with others the lows and challenges he had experienced in his life. Serving as a testimony to rise above and using his past as a means to encourage others was his own personal ministry. Rev. Jones will be greatly missed by all that loved him and those who impacted his life.

Reverend Louis Jones is survived by daughter, Shirley Jackson of CA; sister, Sarah Williams; a dedicated sister/niece, Ilesia Jones-Craff (Nathaniel), all of Houston; special dedicated nieces, Cherry Clay and Mona Wiley of Houston; niece, Carla Smith of Houston; nephews, Felix Vailant, Willie Smith, Carl Smith, Wilford Clay, Jr., Anthony Williams, Mitchell Gipson and LaKeith Hodge all of Houston; great nieces, Cheri Jones-Craff and Monique Wiley, both of Houston; great nephews, Robert Jones (Dana), Oscar Wiley III, Marcus Wiley, and Nathaniel Craff, all of Houston; cousins, Constance Lee, Delores Gooden (Herbert), Gene Jackson (Clara) Eugene Jackson (Lillie Ruth), and Larry Jackson (Ruby), all of Houston. He also leaves to cherish his memory a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lovie Jones; parents, Emmett and Elsie Jones; and sister, Carolyn Clay.