, a Norfolk judge, and father of Democratic attorney general hopeful Jay Jones, has died at 70.
His family, including Jay Jones, who previously held his father鈥檚 former seat in the House of Delegates, announced his death Saturday evening.
鈥淗is legacy of service, integrity and dedication to justice will continue to inspire all who knew him,鈥 the family said in a statement.
Jerrauld Jones graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1976 and received his law degree from Washington and Lee University in 1980. He was the first Black person to be a clerk for the state Supreme Court.
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A Democrat, he represented Norfolk in the House of Delegates from 1988 to 2002, serving as a longtime leader of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.
In 2001, he sought the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. Richmond Mayor Tim Kaine won the nomination in a three-way primary contest that also included Del. Alan Diamonstein, D-Newport News.
In 2002, Gov. Mark Warner named Jones the state鈥檚 director of Juvenile Justice. In 2005 the legislature elected him to a judgeship on the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
In 2008, Kaine, then governor, appointed Jones to fill a judicial vacancy on the Norfolk Circuit Court. The legislature later elected Jones to eight-year terms as a Norfolk Circuit Court judge in 2009 and 2017.
Rep. Bobby Scott, D-3rd, who served with Jones in the House of Delegates before Scott was first elected to Congress, praised his career and character.
鈥淲e served together in the General Assembly and shared the same commitment to justice and equality,鈥 Scott said in a statement.
鈥淭hat commitment to justice was inherited from our fathers, who served on the school boards of Newport News and Norfolk respectively during the public school integration controversies鈥 that followed the Supreme Court鈥檚 school desegregation decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Scott said.
鈥淛errauld was a brilliant jurist and dedicated public servant.鈥
In addition to his son, Jones is survived by his wife, Lyn M. Simmons, a judge on the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
From the Archives: The Virginia state Capitol building
01-29-1970 (cutline): Capitol is focus for women lobbyists' work during session.
02-06-1962 (cutline): Byrd (left) and Del. Pollard view model of Capitol at Commitees' session yesterday.
10-10-1963: Capitol's lunch room.
03-13-1972: Inside of Capitol.
01-13-1962 (cutline): Virginia's Capitol early today, all ready for the Harrison inaguration ceremony.
02-21-1968 (cutline): Sign proclaims 'Fire Lane' along north side of Capitol. Parked cars are almost bumper-to-bumper, but Fire Chief is tolerant.
03-20-1964: Easter Sunrise service at the Virginia State Capitol
03-12-1974:In March 1974 at the state Capitol, Virginia first lady Katherine Godwin 聽(second front right) unveiled a painting of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The work, by Jack Clifton of Hampton (front), was presented by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution; it commissioned the painting in cooperation with the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission. Assisting Godwin with the unveiling were state Sen. Edward E. Willey Sr. of Richmond and DAR official Mrs. John S. Biscoe.
