A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Mr. Willard Jones Sr., 94, Saturday April 28, 2018 in Natchitoches, Louisiana at the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 911 Fifth Street at High Noon. The family will receive visitors at Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home in Natchitoches, Louisiana on Friday, April 27, 2018 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.  A Service of Reflection will be a part of this visitation from 7:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, April 28 at 10:00 a. m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he was a member. The visitation will be followed by the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 11:30 a. m. and a funeral mass at noon. The service will be celebrated by John O'Brien. Interment will immediately follow mass on Saturday, April 28  at the Lawrence Serenity Sanctum.

Mr. Jones was born in Bermuda, Louisiana on April 28, 1923 to the late Harry and Geraldine Jones. He worked for Southern Cotton Oil for 35 years, from 1945 to 1980. He was the first African-American superintendent in the plant's history. He was also a Natchitoches Treasure, member of the Natchitoches Housing Authority, and was instrumental in building the MLK Community Center. He was an inventor and holds a U.S. patent for one of his inventions.

Mr. Jones will be remembered to all who knew him as a strong loving son, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend, and community leader.