Jerrauld Jones facts for kids

Jerrauld Corey Jones (born July 22, 1954 – died May 31, 2025) was an important American leader. He was a politician and a judge. Mr. Jones was a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1988 to 2002. He represented the 89th District in Norfolk. When he passed away, he was a judge for the Norfolk Circuit Court.

Early Life and Education

Jerrauld Jones grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was a well-known African-American lawyer. In the 1950s, Virginia faced challenges with school integration. In 1961, young Jerrauld was one of the first African-American students to attend his elementary school. Later, in 1967, he helped integrate the private Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg.

Mr. Jones went to Princeton University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976. In 1980, he graduated from the Washington and Lee University School of Law. That same year, he became the first African-American law clerk for the Supreme Court of Virginia. After that, he worked as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Norfolk. He then started his own law practice. He worked as a private lawyer until 2002.

Political Career

In 1987, Jerrauld Jones was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. He represented the 89th District. The person who held the seat before him, Yvonne B. Miller, decided to run for the state senate instead. Mr. Jones was reelected seven times. He became a member of the important Rules Committee.

In 2001, Mr. Jones ran for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He finished third in the Democratic primary election. Tim Kaine, who was the Mayor of Richmond at the time, won that election. After this, Mr. Jones ran for reelection to the House of Delegates. He won his eighth term in November 2001. In June 2002, Governor Mark Warner appointed Mr. Jones as the state Director of Juvenile Justice. He held this role until 2005. In this job, he was in charge of young people in Virginia's juvenile detention system.

Judicial Career

In 2005, Governor Warner appointed Mr. Jones as a judge. He served on the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. In December 2008, Governor Tim Kaine appointed him to fill an open position on the Norfolk Circuit Court. The state legislature then elected Mr. Jones to an eight-year term in 2009. He was re-elected for a second eight-year term in 2017.

Passing Away

Jerrauld Corey Jones passed away on May 31, 2025. He was 70 years old.