Bess Wilson Jones

Bess Wilson Jones, 88, of Little Rock, died Friday, June 17, with her stepson William B. Jones Jr. at her side. “Bessie” (as she was known by family) was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on October 21, 1933, the daughter of the late Martin Luther Wilson and Leila Metcalf Wilson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Bryan Jones Sr. (“Bill”) of Little Rock, and her brothers Vernon Wilson of Little Rock, Bobby Wilson of Hot Springs, and Charles Wilson of Dallas, Texas.

Bess is survived by her sister-in-law Betty Wilson of Dallas, Texas, and her nieces Wendi Murray (Dean), Rainy Berry, and Misty Osborn (Chad) of Dallas, Texas. Other nephews and nieces include Leland and Kenneth Wilson; and Debra, Marty, Tanya, and Sandy Wilson. 

She is also survived by her stepson, William Bryan Jones Jr. (Yslan Hicks) of Little Rock; her step-grandsons William Broadwell Jones of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Stephen Ward Jones of Orlando, Florida; her sisters-in-law Mary Grace Scoggins of Annapolis, Maryland, and Margaret Ann Wilkerson (O.H. “Sunny”) of Little Rock; and other relatives by marriage.

In her high-school years, Bess excelled at basketball. She loved sports all her life, especially when played by the Arkansas Razorbacks. Bess enjoyed a successful career as an executive in the retail shoe business in an era when her profession was dominated by males.  

She was devoted to her late husband and business colleague Bill, caring for him during his long struggle with Parkinson’s. She adored her step-grandsons Will and Stephen, teaching them to ride bikes when they were little and taking them on trips to New York as they grew older.

Bess is remembered by family and friends for her upbeat outlook, her warmth, her sense of humor, her smile, and her infectious laugh. “She made me feel like I was the most special person on earth,” her niece Wendi recalls.

Her friend Angela Finch Green visited Bess often in recent years, bringing her surprises and sometimes taking notes during conversations. On one occasion, Bess looked back on her life and remarked, “If I died tomorrow, I can’t say I left anything undone.”

A service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, with committal in the St. Mark’s Columbarium. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow.