Louis Edward Jones

(Courier News)

LOUIS EDWARD JONES
AGE: 61 PLAINFIELD
Mr. Louis Edward Jones, 61, of Plainfield, NJ, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 3, 2009. He was born July 21, 1947, in Newark, NJ. Mr. Jones joined the Church of God and Saints of Christ at an early age. He served as a member of the choir for many years and was appointed to the position of Assistant Chief Shepherd of the Mass Choir. Mr. Jones attended public schools in Newark, NJ. His athletic success awarded him the opportunity to also play for 4 years on the championship team of Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He was a brother of the Beta Chi Omega Chapter of Lakeland College. He was Co-founder of Lakeland's Black Students' Organization (BSO) and served as the BSO's 1st president at Lakeland. He obtained a Masters of Science Degree in Urban Affairs at CUNY's Hunter College. He began his career as a Case Worker for the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) of the state of New Jersey. He then left DYFS to become a Social Worker for the Victory House Group Home of Newark, NJ. He worked for the New York City School District as Assistant Director of the Alternative School, District 12. He was a DYFS group Home Inspector and then became a Program Development Specialist. He continued to advance his career goals when he became the Executive Director for Plainfield Action Services (PAS) and Director of Department of Public Works, as well as Superintendent of DPW for the City of Plainfield. Fourteen years ago, Mr. Jones pioneered the newly formed Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority. He was the 1st Director of Field Operations. During his tenure at PMUA, he also held the position as Director of Central Services (purchasing and finance) and Chief of Operations until his recent retirement on December 31, 2008. Mr. Jones was a member of the following Civic Organizations: from 1980-1985 he was appointed as a member of the Union County Board of Social Services; he served on the Negotiations Committee (1980-1981), Administration Committee (1982), Chairman, Building Committee (1983), and as Chairman of the Board (3/84-2/85), NJ State Council of Black Social Workers (Co-founder), National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) where he was the Chair for Security, National Forum of Black Public Administrators, a certified member of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), and was currently a member of the Democratic City Committee for Ward 3-3 in the City of Plainfield, NJ. Mr. Jones was very successful in all of his endeavors and received numerous citations from the late Mayor of Plainfield, Honorable Edward C. Lattimore, "Louis E. Jones Day" Proclamation for the 20th Anniversary of the March on Washington (1983). Mr. Jones enjoyed politics. He also enjoyed engaging in debates with friends and colleagues. He managed and supported campaigns for some of Plainfield, NJ's former democratic mayoral and council members, as well as political support for county, state, and national elections.
Louis Edward Jones leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of thirty-nine years, Nancy Swain Jones; two children, Heather Elizabeth Jones and Leland Edward-Swain Jones; one goddaughter, Kelly Renee Martin; a dear mother, Enda Elizabeth Jones Kaiser; father-in-law, David James Prater of Syracuse, NY; sister, Charlotte R. Jones-Barrett; brother, John M. Jones, Jr.; two sisters-in-law, Grace Prater of Miami, FL, and Gloria Prater of Syracuse, NY; three brothers-in-law, Robert Prater of Plainfield, NJ, Troy Prater of Syracuse, NY, and Dalton Barrett of Miramar, FL; and a host of nieces and nephews, and many family and friends.
Arrangements by Judkins Colonial Home.