About Us
The Life of Raymond K. Jones
Before he became a name attached to a tragedy, Raymond K. Jones was a brother to 11, a father to 2, a husband, and a man deeply rooted in his family and community.
Raymond was an Air Force Veteran and a man of great faith. Baptized and active in church, he sought to live with purpose and integrity, guided by his relationship with God.
Raymond became a father in 1989 when he welcomed Whitney Jones into the world. As Whitney grew, the two developed an unbreakable bond.
Raymond's Tragic Death
In 1996, Raymond was transferred by his employer, Federal Express, to work in St. Louis. After nearly a year of flying home every weekend to visit his family, Raymond's visits began to become less frequent.
Eventually Raymond confessed to having developed an addiction to drugs. After confessing, he sought professional help in breaking his addiction, but was unsuccessful.
This addiction led to the night of July 20th, 1998, when Raymond was shot in the chest by Debra Trice, tragically ending his life at age 39. Debra and Raymond had previously become acquainted while using drugs together, and on the night of his death, Debra was under the influence, having not slept in days.
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A Moment of Forgiveness
In August of 2018, Whitney and her mother Terri Jones decided it was time to confront Debra face-to-face for the first time since the trial.
Debra expressed her sorrow, and to Terri and Whitney, she seemed to be a good-hearted person who made a terrible mistake.
Whitney, inspired by her faith in God, decided to forgive Debra and in that moment developed a lasting bond with her father's killer that would lead to both women living lives dedicated to working with people impacted and involved with gun violence. Two years later in 2020, Whitney launched the Raymond K. Jones Foundation to do just that.
The Raymond K. Jones Mission.
The Raymond K. Jones Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is to provide support & resources to families impacted by gun violence in the form of bereavement assistance, scholarships, grief support, and prison outreach.
Additionally, we give back to our communities by hosting various events, including back-to-school giveaways, Thanksgiving meal distributions, coat and toy drives for children during the holiday season, and more.
Meet Our Board
Whitney Jones
Founder & President
Whitney serves as Founder & President, leading strategy to advance the organization’s mission and amplify its voice while honoring her father’s legacy and community impact. She graduated from Ben Davis High School in 2007 and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in 2017.
Terri Jones
Co-Founder & Vice President
As Co-Founder and Vice President, Terri supports the President in shaping its mission, values, and strategic goals. A Licensed Practical Nurse with 34 years in healthcare, she now focuses on continuing the legacy of empowering students to dream big and achieve their educational goals.
Jessica Jackson
Secretary
As the Secretary of the organization, Jessica manages all of the organization's internal communications. Jessica graduated from Western Governors University with a BS in nursing. She is currently a nurse in Indianapolis, IN where she works at a local hospital. She is passionate about helping people. She enjoys traveling, arts and crafts, and trying new things.
Dawn Turner
Director
As Media and Marketing Director, Dawn helps implement strategies that advance the organization’s mission and support fundraising efforts. An award-winning journalist and novelist, she is a former Chicago Tribune columnist and reporter who spent over 15 years writing about race, class, and the stories of individuals often overlooked.
Our Proud Sponsors
