Obituary of John Wesley Jones II

Our beloved John Wesley Jones II (Johnny Lam Jones), age 60, was called to our Heavenly Father on Friday, March 15, 2019.  Mr. Jones passed away after a decade long battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, John Wesley Jones, Sr. and Mary Francis Dillon and his sister, Sonya Wilson.

Mr. Jones is one of the most celebrated athletes in The University of Texas history as both a football and a track star. Prior to becoming a Texas Longhorn, he was a star athlete of the Lampasas High School Badgers. Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman reminds us of a particular outstanding moment where "Lam" put Lampasas sports into the history books, "Jones once electrified Royal-Memorial Stadium with his historic run as the anchor leg of his high school track’s mile relay team. After he took the baton in last place, he made up a distance of more than 75 yards to easily clip the tape as the winner, setting off a wild celebration among grade-school youngsters who poured onto the track from the stands." 

He lettered in football from 1976-1979 and in track for the Horns in 1977-1978. He was the football team's Most Valuable Player in 1978 and earned All-American honors in both 1978 and 1979.  He would later go on to play for the Jets and the Cowboys.  During his freshman year at UT, Lam was a member of the U.S. Olympic team where he won Gold.  He was All-American in track as well as in football.  

John is survived by his fiancé of 18 years, Teresa Willis; his loving children, Jason Moreno and his wife, LaLinthea, and Sonyett Bailey and her husband, Clinton; grandchildren, Alexia Bailey, Jada Bailey, Xavier Bailey, Damitrius Moreno, De'Von Moreno, and Acacia Moreno; his great-granddaughter, Amaya Rose Moreno; his sister Aimee Antoine-Bush and her husband, Ken; and many other family members and friends.

The children of Mr. Jones would like to extend a special thank you to Raymond Clayborn, Lawrence Sampleton, Steve Massey, Alfred Jackson, Donnie Little, and Randy McEachern for their unwaverings support in helping coordinate a fitting tribute to our father.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Mission Funeral Home - South Side, 6204 S. First St., Austin, Texas 78702.

Home Going Celebration will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 22, 2019, originating at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1010 E 10th St, Austin, Texas 78702. Interment for Mr. Jones will be private at Texas State Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Gary Milligan, Lynn Miles, David Gonzales, Hugh Spooner, Jeff Reeves, and Ken Capps.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Kenny Milligan, Clinton Bailey, Damitrius Moreno, De'Von Moreno, Alfred Jackson, Donnie Little, Johnny "Ham" Jones, and Al Wilson, Philip Ramirez, Dr. Norman Mason, and Lawrence Sampleton, Steve Massey, and Randy McEachern.