Ella M. Jones has been a Ferguson resident for more than 40 years; widowed with one daughter. She graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis with a B.A. in Chemistry. Her previous employers include Washington University School of Medicine, Biochemistry Molecular Bio-physics Department, and KV Pharmaceutical Company as an Analytical Chemist.
Jones served 22 years as a Pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and 30 years as a Mary Kay Sales Director. She resigned from her Mary Kay Directorship to serve her community full time and was elected as a Council Member, serving on various commissions and boards. Jones completed training in municipal leadership from the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life, and earned a certificate as a Municipal Official from the Municipal Governance Institute. In June of 2020, Jones was elected as Mayor of Ferguson, the first woman and African American after 126 years.
Jones serves the community in numerous other capacities: founder of Community Forward, Inc.; Emerson Family YMCA and St. Louis Metro Market board member; Annual UNITY Weekend Chairperson; member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee and Samaritan’s Feet Organization collaborator. She enjoys traveling, trout fishing, preparing New Orleans style cuisine, dancing, and power-shopping with her girlfriends.
