A Personal Remembrance

I discovered this just hours ago and am still in shock. Black speculative fiction has lost a dedicated creator and family man, Ronald Jones.

I knew Ronald for fifteen years, and we met through the Black Science Fiction Society when it was in its infancy. He and I would be up late at night co-conspiring on story ideas and the best ways to present them. Ronald was a passionate writer and was always up for a challenge back then. We eventually wrote short stories together and talked about how cool it would be to publish our work.
We would talk about science fiction, and his enthusiasm for the space opera genre was infectious. He was an encouraging fellow who gave as much support to new writers as possible, and I remember being so impressed with him that when I went to Chicago to visit my family, we met there, spent a day together talking about writing and going on a guided tour of the city.

My family and I were so surprised that he would take time from his schedule to visit us, but we appreciated it just the same. It was a great pleasure to meet someone who had been so supportive in the flesh, and he was everything I imagined him to be.

Ronald would eventually publish both short stories and books, with his specialty being military tales of high-octane adventure. He would explore other genres but always came back to military tales if left to his own devices. I remember his first book, Chronicle of the Liberator, and how excited he was to be able to hold it in his hand. Ever-grinding and never resting on his laurels, he would join Milton Davis, another long-term writer and publisher, and work with him, appearing in numerous anthologies including Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology and Dark Universe.

Ronald loved his family, and any time we ever talked, it would start off about writing and end up about his children. I was always happy that even when he didn’t have the time to write as much as he wanted, he was always surrounded by the people that loved him, and he did his best to love them in return.

Hail the Traveler, Ronald Jones — a respected member of his community, an avid creator, beautiful dreamer, heroic example, and dedicated family man. He will be missed. My condolences to his family and friends in this trying time.

As Reported by the News

SCHERERVILLE, Ind. (WLS) — An off-duty correctional officer was killed in a hit-and-run crash Saturday morning in Northwest Indiana. The crash happened near Route 30 and Austin Avenue in Schererville, Indiana, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department said.
An off-duty correctional officer with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department was driving when his vehicle was struck by another driver, Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said. The off-duty officer was flown to a hospital in Chicago, where he was later pronounced dead.
The victim has been identified as 58-year-old Ronald T. Jones, the sheriff’s department said. He worked at the Lake County Jail for almost nine years.

“Jones leaves behind two adult children. His coworkers remember him as a kind, dedicated man who performed his duties with an exceptional level of professionalism,” a statement from Sheriff Martinez Jr. read in part. “My deepest condolences go to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his life and service.”

The other driver fled the scene of the crash on foot, the sheriff said. No arrests have been made as a search for the driver continues.