Corliss Jones

Corliss Elaine Jones was born June 26, 1955, in Kansas City, MO, to the union of Dallas J. and Beverly Alexander. She was the eldest of four children. She was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly Alexander and her grandparents, Robert & Irene Rich and Dallas Sr. & Ruby Alexander.

She graduated from St. Teresa’s Academy and attended college at the University of San Francisco, Long Beach State, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

Corliss married Earnest Jones in 1984 after meeting him at Trinity Temple COGIC. At the time, Earnest was a young aspiring deacon who later became a Youth Pastor under the late Bishop W.B. Henderson. Corliss accepted Christ in the mid-eighties and was baptized by her husband. To this union were added two precious sons, Dallas Christopher Jones and Alexander Edward Jones. She was a home educator to her sons and was active in many local home-schooling communities.

Corliss was a member and served as Financial Secretary for Trinity Temple COGIC for over 20 years. For the past 11 years she was a member of Graceway Church. In her later years, she supported the Kansas City Police Department’s Special Operations Division as an Administrative Assistant. She also worked as a tax accountant as a service to others.

Corliss lived a very active and fun-filled life. She was a runner-up in the 1975 Black Missouri Beauty Pageant, a model for Hallmark Cards, a bartender, a belly dancer, a sabre fencer, a racquet ball player, and an avid motorcycle rider. Later in life she was a passionate half-marathon runner with over 30 runs. She began her running journey after participating in a 3-day, 60-mile walk for breast cancer in honor of her late stepmom, Clarice Alexander. In addition to her passion for running, she loved dogs, dressing up, and traveling. Corliss, Earnest, and their boys have been on over a dozen cruises and have traveled to many states including Hawaii and Alaska. She also vacationed to many countries; her greatest highlight was in 2019 when their sons treated their parents to a trip to Paris, Athens, and the island of Santorini for their 35th wedding anniversary.

Corliss loved life and was a friend to all. She had a killer smile and was given such nicknames as “Sunshine”, “Angel”, and “Precious”, but her favorite was “Baby Love”, as called by her husband. She leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved and devoted husband, Earnest Jones; children, Dallas Jones and Alexander Jones (Sarah); granddaughter, Amelia Jones; dearest nephew, Dominic Farmer (Tinasha); precious father, Dallas Alexander (Ruth); brother, David Alexander (Shellie); sisters, Cathee Massey and Carolyn Evans (Brian); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.