Jamala Peyton

Jamala was born January 31,1976 to John Edward Jones, Jr and Noris Maria Quiroz-Jones in Washington, D.C. She fell asleep on October 29, 2025. Jamala was married to Steven Peyton and survived by her two children, Joyce Chijioke Ukwa and Steven John Peyton and her step-children, Sierra Lorae Peyton and Nicole Renee Manning and Aniya Sanders (granddaughter). She was the younger sister of Qwan Omar Jones (Leslie). She also leaves behind her brother in laws - William Peyton and Charles Peyton and sister in laws - Lois Ann Sallis, Darlene Riley, and Tammy Peyton.

Jamala was dedicated to her studies and attended magnet programs at Woodmore Elementary School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School. She graduated from Bowie High School in 1993.

Following graduation, Jamala attended Prince Georges Community College. Jamala earned her bachelor’s degree from Bowie State University in 2000, and Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2012.

Jamala started her career at National Aeronautics and Space Administration in May 1997, following in the footsteps of her late father, who worked as a LANDSAT Operator at the NASA Goddard Complex. While working for NASA, Jamala served as a Contract Administrator (Goddard Space Flight Center), and Contracting Officer (Headquarters). She worked at the Nationals Science Foundation as a Senior Contracting Officer, and Division Head of Contracts and Complex Agreements. Jamala’s time at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allowed her to work in multiple regions of the world (West Africa, Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Caribbean) Jamala was a prominent figure in the United States Department of Commerce, serving as the Executive Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) for 4 years. She played a crucial role in advocating for U.S. small businesses’ participating in the Department’s contract awards. She retired after 31 years of federal service.

Jamala and Steven – A Love Story

Jamala and Steven met in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Jamala was the Contracting Officer for Steven’s HQ Security Contract. After Jamala left NASA, I lost touch with Jamala until 2016 when two of Jamala close friends Dalia and Jennifer helped us reconnect and as they say the rest is history. This was the beginning of the love story that I was blessed to share with Jamala until God decided he needed her in heaven. The first day that Jamala walked in the NASA lobby to meet me on July 29, 2016, I told myself that she would be my wife one day. On December 29, 2017, that dream came true. After spending almost a year together, we were blessed with Steven John on November 27, 2018.

Throughout our time together, Jamala and I loved spending time with all our kids, family, and friends just building one great memory after another. I cannot name all of you in the crowd today, but I know all of you loved Jamala and you had a special relationship with her that will stand the test of time. Steven, Joy, Sierra and Nicole, mommy loved you so much and I’m going to do my best to give you the love that she had in her heart for you. Jamala you will always be in my heart, and I will love you forever. Rest in peace my love.

Jamala has many lifelong girlfriends/sisters, friends from childhood, high school, early career days to the present that impacted her life. She leaves behind many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at The Meeting House, 5885 Robert Oliver Pl, Columbia, MD 21045, at 10:00am followed by burial at Linthicum Chapel Cemetery located at 12155 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029.