He attended Shannon Elementary and Cypress Jr. High School. At an early age, he made the lifeĀ changing decision to join the U.S. Army. After returning home from the Army, he worked a variety of jobs until his health failed.
"Bro" was always known as a jokester. He loved playing (cheating) cards, listening to music and dancing. He was an adamant fan of The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind and Fire. His favorite Isley Brothers song was Harvest for the World.
He became a faithful member of the Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church and would often encourage his children and friends to attend with him.
"Bro" was called home to be with the Lord at Methodist University Hospital on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 10:40 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ester and Earnestine Norton; his grandmother, Mable Milton; his son, Jacob Jones; his grandson, Otis Lester, Jr.; and his nephew, BJ Wright.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children, Donald Jones, Derrick Jones, Sr., Marshecia (Trenell) Scott, Earnest (Latoya) Jones, Dwight (Madison) Waddell, Tirany Jones, Laquisha (Derrick) Waddell, and Roy Waddell. He also leaves a special life-long friend and mother of his children, Katherine Waddell. He has twenty-five grandchildren with Catera Lester being his oldest and the joy of his life. He leaves his three sisters, Frances Mabon, Carolyn Norton and Mae Nell Norton, who all had him very spoiled. He and Nell would talk daily. He also leaves three nieces, one nephew, two great-nieces, five great-nephews, two great-great-nephews and one uncle, JW (Elizabeth) Terry, Sr. He leaves special friends, Gene Applewhite and Racy (VonDo) Vaughn and his childhood friend, Frederick Bryant along with a host of cousins, family, friends and his Eastern Star MBC family.
Family will receive friends on Friday, September, 23, 2022 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm and homegoing services will be Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 11:00am. Both services will be held at Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church 1334 William Fields Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104.
The interment will be held Monday, September 26, 2022 at 11:00am at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery 4000 Forest Hill Irene