Reggie Jones spent much of his life serving young people, his church and the community he called home. That commitment carried him from the football fields of St. Louis to the halls of government and, ultimately, to the mayor’s office in Dellwood. He spent more than 13 years working to strengthen the city he loved.
Jones died Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. He was 53.
“We have lost the heartbeat of our family’s laughter and joy,” his family said in a statement. “Reggie was a rare soul who could walk into any room, take command of the atmosphere, and somehow make everyone feel at home. His presence was unmistakable. His voice, his laughter, his stories, his humor, and his ability to bring people together were uniquely his own.”
Reginald Jones was born July 22, 1973, in St. Louis and was the youngest of six children of Frank and Ann Jones.
A graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, he was a proud member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. He was also a member of New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church, where he was ordained a deacon in March 2022.
Long before he entered politics, Jones had established himself as a servant of young people. He served as president of the St. Louis Junior Football League from 1999 to 2013. During that time, he also built what would become one of the defining relationships of his life — his work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.
Jones served as Club Director of the Herbert Hoover Club for three decades.
“For 30 years, Reggie served our organization with unwavering dedication and a loyal commitment to the young people and families of the Herbert Hoover Club,” said Boys & Girls Clubs President and CEO Brandon Williams. “His love for Herbert Hoover, the city of Dellwood and the community he served was evident in everything he did.”
That same spirit of service followed Jones into public office.
His political career began in 2010, when he was elected to the board of the Riverview Gardens School District. A year later, he was named collector for the City of Dellwood. In 2012, he was elected alderman of Dellwood’s 3rd Ward. He became mayor in 2013.
He stepped into the position at a pivotal moment for North St. Louis County. One year into his tenure, the Ferguson uprising brought worldwide attention to the region. Dellwood, like other nearby communities, faced the consequences of the unrest. Jones led the city through a difficult period while working to position it for recovery and growth.
“Mayor Jones loved Dellwood and devoted himself to improving the lives of its residents,” said Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis President and CEO Michael P. McMillan. “He was an excellent mayor. Through some of our region’s most challenging moments, he remained committed to rebuilding, restoring hope and creating greater opportunities for the families and businesses he served.”
McMillan worked alongside Jones on several initiatives throughout the Ferguson–Dellwood corridor, including the Urban League Senior Living Center, which opened in 2024 and provides 44 housing units for seniors, and Urban League Plaza, now under construction along West Florissant Avenue.
“These projects reflect a vision Mayor Jones and I shared: that Dellwood, Ferguson and North County deserve meaningful investment, quality housing and continued progress,” McMillan said. “Mayor Jones understood that rebuilding a community requires more than new buildings. It requires leadership, partnership and an unwavering belief in the people who call that community home.”
Under Jones’ leadership, Dellwood also passed a $7 million bond issue to rebuild and repave its streets. He placed an emphasis on bringing residents together through community programming and events — including Dellwood’s annual Juneteenth Festival, which grew into a regional celebration of Black culture.
Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Syleena Johnson headlined Dellwood’s 2025 Juneteenth Celebration.
“What a great person and leader in the community,” Johnson said. “I got a chance to perform there last year, and the honor he gave me was truly special. My thoughts are with his family, wife and the entire city.”
Jones’ leadership style centered on nurturing relationships with residents and the surrounding community.
That was evident last month when he became part of a story involving 11-year-old Dellwood entrepreneur Keon King Jr., whose lemonade stand had been shut down over what city officials later acknowledged was a misunderstanding.
“We make lemonade out of lemons,” Jones said. “Sometimes the greatest opportunities and strongest relationships can come from a misunderstanding. When handled with honesty, communication and a positive attitude, even difficult moments can lead to something better.”
Jones was selected for the third cohort of honorees of the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Young Leaders in 2013. In 2020, he was elected Ferguson Township Committeeman, adding another layer to a public-service career that spanned more than a decade.
“Mayor Jones cared deeply about his community,” David Chappell said via Facebook. “I had the honor of working with him during COVID to start vaccination clinics in Dellwood.”
Chappell’s note was one of many tributes poured in for Mayor Jones via social media.
“North County has lost one of its most dedicated champions,” St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said. “For more than a decade, Mayor Reggie Jones led Dellwood with courage and compassion. He was a devoted advocate for young people and a public servant who never stopped working to strengthen his community.”
Williams said Jones’ loss is deeply felt across the Boys & Girls Clubs network.
“We are devastated by this tremendous loss,” he said. “Reggie was more than a dedicated employee and leader — he was our colleague, our friend and an important part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis family.”
The Herbert Hoover Club was closed the Friday following Jones’ death. On Monday, the Adams Park, Herbert Hoover, Mathews-Dickey and Hazelwood Elementary clubs, along with the Teen Center of Excellence, were closed to give staff time to mourn.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Reggie’s family and all who loved him,” Williams said. “We mourn alongside you and will forever be grateful for his decades of service, leadership and commitment to our young people and community.”
Jones is survived by his wife of more than 25 years, Rukiya Jones; four children; and five grandchildren.
“While our hearts are broken by his passing, we find comfort in knowing that the impact of his life will continue through the family he loved, the people he served, the communities he touched and the countless lives made better simply because he was in them,” his family said.
The City of Dellwood echoed that sentiment.
“His service to our city and the relationships he built throughout the region have left a lasting impact that will not be forgotten,” the city said. “His legacy will forever be a part of Dellwood.”
Reggie Jones was a positive man of great influence in the lives of my grandchildren and their time spent at HHBC, so thankful to have had him to impact many young people’s lives and to exemplify what a man of God can and did accomplish in a short time , God bless his family, let his legacy not be forgotten 🙏🏾💝
My wife Ellie and I lived in Dellwood for 26 years, serving as Co-Pastors of the Northminster Presbyterian Church in Dellwood until retirement in 2011, moving to Ohio in 2024. We saw Reggie Jones as an honest, hardworking mayor for thirteen years, always concerned for the welfare of all the residents of Dellwood. He guided Dellwood through the tough years following the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. He created recreation opportunities for young people while at the same time taking care of the practical necessities of being a city like streets and infrastructure and buildings and safety. Reggie was a great mayor and a steadfast man of faith. Dellwood will benefit from Reggie’s time as mayor well into the future. We celebrate his life and achievements and mourn his passing.
Dellwood Mayor Reggie was a friend to many, a mentor when needed, a leader withouit question and set the bar high with his exemplary example of how to approach public service. I will miss seeing his smile and North County and even the entire region will miss his contributions to the progress of our shared community.
Retired Florissant Mayor Tom Schneider
AS A SENIOR RESIDENT IN DELLWOOD FOR 20 YEARS…I KNOW THAT GOD LIKES BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS IN HIS GARDEN AND HAS OTHER PLANS. I’M STILL ATTEMPTING TO PROCESS THE LOSS OF AN EXCEPTIONAL MAYOR (LIKE
NONE OTHER). IN MY OPINION….HE IS DESERVING TO BE HONORED WITH “THE LARGEST PARADE EVER” AND BE DOCUMENTED IN THE “GENIST BOOK OF RECORDS (SINCERELY). HE WAS AN EXAMPLE AND TRULY A BLESSING TO AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE (YOUNG AND OLD) CARING,GIVING, KNOWLEDGABLE…WHAT I REMEMBERED AS REALLY SPECIAL…HE REMEBERED AND CALLED THE CITIZENS OF DELLWOOD AT OUR EVENTS AND I’M SURE OTHERS BY THEIR 1ST AND LAST NAME (ALL I GOT TO SAY IS “WOW”) ..HIS SMILE, JOKES CONTAGIOUS. REST IN PEACE, MAYOR JONES.. YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AWESOME CANDIDATE ON THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT(SMILE).