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Celebrating the life of the Honorable Jerrauld C. Jones.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 2026
WHEREAS, the Honorable Jerrauld C. Jones, an esteemed public servant who represented the residents of Norfolk in the House of Delegates and presided over two Norfolk courts, died on May 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, born to Hilary and Corinne Jones in 1954, Jerrauld Jones grew up in Norfolk and began to cultivate a deep dedication to his family and community at a young age; he demonstrated great courage as one of the first Black students to integrate Ingleside Elementary School in 1961; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Virginia Episcopal School, Jerrauld Jones earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University, then moved to New York City to work as a musician; and
WHEREAS, Jerrauld Jones was a gifted trumpeter and pianist with a passion for jazz and played with several bands until he returned to the Commonwealth after the death of his father; he continued his education at the Washington and Lee University School of Law, then answered his true calling to pursue a life of public service; and
WHEREAS, Jerrauld Jones ran for and was elected to the House of Delegates in 1987 and represented the residents of the 89th District for 15 years; he introduced numerous pieces of legislation to benefit all Virginians and offered his wisdom and expertise to several standing committees, including the Rules Committee; and
WHEREAS, in 1999, Jerrauld Jones gave an impassioned speech during debate on a license plate for the Sons of Confederate Veterans; he recounted his personal experiences of seeing the Confederate flag waving over a Ku Klux Klan rally and a protest against school integration, and his moving oratory led to bipartisan support for an amendment that disallowed use of a logo incorporating the Confederate flag on the plate; and
WHEREAS, from 2002 to 2005, Jerrauld Jones served as director of the Department of Juvenile Justice under Governor Mark Warner; he was subsequently appointed as a judge of the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and presided over the court with great fairness and wisdom until 2008, when he was selected to fill a vacancy on the Norfolk Circuit Court; and
WHEREAS, Jerrauld Jones continued to preside over the Norfolk Circuit Court, serving the Commonwealth with the utmost dedication, integrity, and distinction, until his well-earned retirement in 2024; and
WHEREAS, Jerrauld Jones will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Lyn; his son, Jay, and his family; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Jerrauld C. Jones, a distinguished public servant in Norfolk; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Jerrauld C. Jones as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.