The website is created on the 12 of January 2011 in celebration of our dearest Billy Jones' life who was born in Sierra Leone on the 12th of January 1944 and passed in dignity on the 15 of December 2010.
He left his family and friends in profound grief and shock.
This day marks the launching of The Billy Jones Sports Foundation
which will take forward his planned retirement project for
the Sierra Leone Grammar School
giving talented sport students the opportunity for advancement
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Billy Jones
Broadcaster, staff leader and sportsman
Michael Billy Jones was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 12 January 1944 to Michael B. “Doc” and Sudie Jones. He grew up in Leah Street in the East end of the city and later at the family home at Wilkinson Road in the West. He attended the Holy Trinity Infant, Cathedral Boys and Interim Municipal Primary Schools, the Sierra Leone Grammar School and St. Edwards Secondary School in Freetown.
He received his Professional Diploma in Broadcasting from the Washington Academy of Radio and Television in 1968, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Howard University in 1972.
Billy began his broadcasting career with the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) in 1963 as a Programme Officer and later as a Producer. He also contributed to the BBC African Service’s current affairs programme “Focus on Africa” in London before migrating to the United States. Between 1969 and 1974 he contributed to the production and presentation of the Voice of America (VOA) program “The Sierra Leone Newsletter”
Billy worked for Howard University for over thirty years, mainly in the area of Accounting. Perhaps his most distinctive and professionally rewarding service was in staff-management relations. He was instrumental in the establishment of the University Support Staff Organization (HUSSA) and rose to the rank of President of the Association. In that elected position he provided leadership in galvanizing support for staff interests. He interacted with senior management on issues and concerns affecting the welfare of staff and ensuring their participation/representation in decision-making related to jobs and campus life activities. He also coordinated the publication of the Association’s newsletter to ensure that all supporting staff members were periodically informed about important decisions and events in the University. During his tenure as head of the Association he worked very closely with three University Presidents and the Board of Trustees to enhance the status of the employees. His commitment to the welfare of the support staff was unquestionable. As one of his former colleagues put it when she heard about his transition, Billy will not hesitate to let the university administration know when employees were dissatisfied with management. He was capable of organizing a protest in a heartbeat. Bold as he was, Billy was also very passionate about the welfare of students. For instance, in his capacity as leader of the Support Staff Association he would solicit funds from employees and the University President to feed students who had no where to go for the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.
He was well known among employees, university administration and students, and became one of the most popular persons on campus. It was no surprise that everyone in the university community seemed to know the name and the man “Billy” but not Michael Jones. In the course of his work at Howard he served in various committees such as the President’s Employee Appreciation Day Committee, the Executive Committee for Howard University Accreditation by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Task Force for the appointment of the first Provost of Howard University in 1996.
Billy was an avid sportsman. A first class cricketer in his own right, he played for the Sierra Leone national cricket team on several occasions. He also excelled in football (soccer), as a goal keeper. He never realized his dream of playing for Regents Olympic, the football club of his favourite alma mater the Sierra Leone Grammar School, at the Division 1 level of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA). However, Billy succeeded in playing Division I football (soccer) for his other school St. Edwards. He persevered and gave all that he had between the goal posts or in front of the wicket of any team that required his sporting skills.
In the United States Billy continued to play football (soccer). He was Howard University’s goalkeeper when the Bison made it to the NCAA semi-final in 1970 against UCLA in Edwardsville, Illinois. As a senior player, and even after graduating from Howard, he always looked out for the younger players, seeking their interest, and making sure that everything was going well with them. He never stood on the sidelines and let anybody take advantage of them on and off the field. He assisted in training and coaching student athletes and served as the Assistant soccer coach at Howard in 1974-1975.
Billy was a founding member of the Sierra Leone Grammar School Alumni Association of North America, Washington DC Metro Branch. He served in various capacities including Vice President (two terms) and Organizing Secretary.
His transition is a reminder, courtesy of the ‘Bard of Avon’ that all the world’s a stage; that Billy, like all the men and women before him and those who will enter after him, was merely a player. He made his entrance on January 12, 1944, played his part, indeed many parts, to the best of his ability. Among other things, and in one small corner of this boundless stage, he performed as a broadcaster, a goal keeper and assistant coach, a bowler and batsman, a conscientious leader/advocate in campus life staff-management relations, and as a loyal citizen whose dedication to service was exemplary.
He made his exit on December 15, 2010. And the audience yelled cheerfully, albeit with a sense of grief over the finality of the exit, “Bravo, Billy! Bravo! Bravo!”
Billy is survived by his wife Ibiduni (DUNI); his mother Sudie; daughters Miatta and Chante; sister, Sadie; brothers Donald and Leonard; Uncle, Dr. Eldred Durosimi Jones, Professor Emeritus and former Principal, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, and his spouse (Aunty Birdie) Marjorie Jones; Aunt, Ethlene (Lady) Jarrett; Aunt, Bertha Conton and several relatives and friends in Sierra Leone, the United States and the United Kingdom.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
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