Ronald L. Jones was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 20, 1946. After high school, through the efforts of the Urban League he became the first black copy boy for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, creating an opportunity for other minorities to be hired. A year later, he enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps and went on to become a recipient of the Purple Heart for his courageous efforts in the Vietnam War. He also received the Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. His horrific yet enlightening experience taught him compassion and comfort and would eventually serve as inspiration for his interest in mortuary science.
In 1969, Ronald enrolled in the first class of mortuary science at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. In 1974, he went on to graduate from the renowned Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, majoring in Restorative Art. After apprenticing and working at several of the leading funeral homes both in Chicago and in St. Louis, Ronald became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Ronald envisioned establishing his own funeral home, but his optimism was tainted when lending institutions and other solicited benefactors would not help his dream to become a reality. Detoured but not discouraged, Ronald’s blessings came to fruition in the form of strangers who came to his aid. Ronald reflected that “God works in His own time.”
In 1976, Ronald established Ronald L. Jones Mortuary. His objective was to offer services representing life rather than the sad atmosphere familiarized with death. He wanted to make a loved one whole again. He believed people deserved something above the ordinary, even after death. In 1977, Ronald received national recognition in Jet and Ebony Magazines and on The Tom Snyder Show, for fulfilling the most unusual funerary request—dressed in a black satin suit, a big black hat and sunglasses, the deceased requested to be placed in an upright casket because he had been “looked down upon all of his life.”
In 1990, Ronald reestablished his firm under the moniker Ronald L. Jones Funeral Chapels. Then in 2004, Ronald relocated to his current location. Since moving to the new location, he has continued to provide quality funeral services with his own personal flare. A vital contender, Ronald remains on the cutting edge of funeral service technology and as always is willing to offer any family assistance in the time of need.
In 2005, HBO featured two films, Pushing Up Daisies and Laid Out, which followed Ronald’s daily tasks of embalming and restorative artwork, and his delicate interactions with families during the funeral arrangement processes. Both films received National Honors at the Monterey Film Festival.
In spite of a luminous career spanning over 39 years in the funeral industry, Ronald has never forgotten nor taken for granted his humble beginnings. It has been said that to whom much is given, much is required. Ronald has felt compelled to give back to the community that continues to support him.
Please join us on the 2015 VIP Tour on Sunday, August 2, 2015 as we make a momentous stop on the Red Carpet at the Ronald L. Jones Funeral Chapel in St. Louis. Everyone is invited to “Get on the Bus” as it loads at the NFDMA Headquarters – Renaissance Hotel at 3:15pm. All proceeds will benefit the 1st Annual Cancer Cure Bowl for Cancer Research and Roberta’s House of Baltimore – For Grieving Children and Family Members. For NFDMA/100BWFS Convention events, go to www.100blackwomenoffuneralservice.com or email us at Hundredbwfs@aol.com.