Ulysses S. Jones was born February 5, 1951. Mr. Jones, as he often preferred to be called, was the fourth of six children born to the union of Ulysses & Eunice Barton Jones in Houston, TX.

Ulysses was 9 years old when he was baptized by the late Rev. I. S. Wright, Pastor of the Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, where he was a faithful member.

He attended Houston Public Schools, beginning with Atherton Elementary, proceeding to E. O. Smith Jr. high, and graduating from Phillis Wheatley Sr. School class of 1969. He was ranked 5th in his class of over 400 students. Throughout his education, Ulysses was an honor student who excelled in his studies.

Mr. Jones went on to attend Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, graduated with a B.S. in Business and a minor in Education in 1973. Upon graduating, he enrolled in Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, graduating in 1976 again with highest honors. Mr. Jones passed the bar on his first try and was issued his Texas State Bar License on May 18, 1976. He began to intern with the late Chief Justice John C. Phillips with the 3rd Court of Civil Appeals. Once Mr. Jones completed his internship with Chief Justice Phillips. He was hired by Chevron Corporation in Houston, TX, going on to become a chief litigator for their Southwest Coastal Region.

It was while interning in Austin, TX, that Mr. Jones met his soulmate and love of his life, Janice Carter. Ulysses and Janice married on July 1, 1978. To this union, three sons were born: Ulysses S. (Stephanie) Jones, II, Jonathan Andrew Jones, and Joel Stephen Jones.

In the mid-90s, Mr. & Mrs. Jones moved their family to Seattle, Washington. Later, they all moved to the Everett, Washington area. Mr. Jones passed Washington’s state bar. He received his bar license on April 16, 1997.

In the early 2000s, the family moved again, this time to Grand Forks in North Dakota for a short while before eventually settling near Edmore, North Dakota. Mr. Jones would be admitted to the state bar on January 13, 2005, eventually creating Jones Law Office in Devils Lake.

Jones Law Office specialized in family and criminal defense law, later transitioning solely to criminal defense law. From time to time, his sons would assist him in his legal office with his work. It was during this time that he also served his state and community as an indigent defense attorney, providing the same level of legal professionalism and excellence to those who were in need, regardless of their situation.

Additionally, Mr. Jones was active in his church and community. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Jones could always be counted on to provide a wise word, an amusing anecdote, or a Bible verse. Sometimes, all three. Mr. Jones was well known, both for his strong faith and his relationship with the LORD. In both legal and civil circles, he also gained many friends and garnered much respect for his integrity, his kindness, and the tenacity with which his soft-spoken southern manners could deliver a strong, heartfelt point of order. He will be sorely missed.

Ulysses Samuel Jones fought the good fight for 75 years until crossing over to be with his Lord and Savior on April 8, 2026, with family members present at his side.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Eunice & Ulysses Jones, his father-in-law Isaiah W. Carter, mother-in-law Mercedes Greene Carter, and his older brother, Dr. Nobleton Bernard Jones.

He is survived by his wife, Janice, their three sons & daughter-in-law, whom he loved like his own daughter: Ulysses (Stephanie), Jonathan, and Joel; his siblings Bishop Ernest J. (Rev. Birdie L) Jones, M.D., Hannah J. (Harvey) Smith, R. Ph; Eddie B. (Stephanie) Jones, Sr., Marie J. (Charlie) Mure, sister-in-law Lee Esther Jones, the wife of the late Dr. Nobleton B. Jones, adopted brother Dr. Julius C. Houston; four loving sisters-in-law: Lois (McClairy) Carter, Gloria White, Karen Curtis, and Shelia Hicks, and three loving brothers-in-law: Calvin Carter, Kenenth Carter, and Davilon Carter, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, family, and friends who all loved him dearly.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. at River of Life, Assembly of God Church, Devils Lake ND. Ulysses will be laid to rest on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Fargo, ND.

Ulysses is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, ND