Debra Jean Jones

Though she would be born into the huge Toney family filled with older brothers and sisters, she was the first baby born to Theodore and Bertha Toney (nee’ Johnson). Soon after, came Brenda, Faye, Joe, and Mike.

Debra was indeed the big sister on “A” street.

Young Debra, one of the few true Las Vegas natives of this time, attended the original Historic Westside School previously known as Las Vegas Grammar School #1. Because Debra was the daughter of a successful construction entrepreneur with business dealings in Las Vegas as well as Seattle, she often bounced between Nevada and Washington and it was there where she met her first and only true love, Clifford Jones, better known as CJ, who lived right next door to her in Seattle’s Central District, then often referred to as THE CD. Debra continued her education at T.T. Minor in Seattle and Rancho High School in Las Vegas as well as Garfield High School in Seattle where she graduated in 1972.

Debra’s truest calling was being mama to her and CJ’s boys– their first, Lamare, was born in 1971 in Seattle, Washington. Soon after, the young family would embark on a journey to support CJ in his basketball endeavors at Oregon State University in Corvallis, where they got married in 1973 and welcomed their second son, Devan in 1974. The young family met many friends and have many fond memories during that time, but in 1980, the family would return to Las Vegas and stay there as their forever home. Then, Debra and CJ’s third son, JD, was born in Las Vegas in 1983.

Debra, created a community wherever she went whether it was throwing house parties, cooking a big pot of gumbo, or supporting her boys in their sports. Family, friends, food, and football was what Debra was all about that and taking care of business–as she was also extremely hardworking. Debra enjoyed a successful career in medical administration, quickly working her way up to corporate management at Coresource and then at AMR. And boy did she work hard during the week, but when Friday hit, it was all about the music and memories with her boys and she always treated each and every one of their friends as her own, too. Debra was the quintessential boy mom and her house on Duchess in Regal Estates and in the cul-de-sac on Arrowridge Circle was also home to all of her bonus sons. But even those boys knew when she had enough of their shenanigans as she would be quick to invite them to leave in her fiery way. Debra did not play. Debra was a strong woman, but that didn’t matter when it came to her beloved Mother, the Virtuous Mother Bertha Toney Alexander. Debra was a devoted daughter who took good care of her mother until she transitioned in July of 2023.

On August 27, 2024, the Lord called Debra Jones to her heavenly home. There lovingly awaits those who preceded her in death including her father Theodore Toney, her mother Mother Bertha Toney Alexander, siblings Brenda Pogue, Leroy Toney, Theodore Toney Jr., Sherman Toney, Sammy Toney Childs, Joyce Toney Chaney, Kenny Jones, Carey Jones, and nephew Dionte Pogue.

Debra Jean Jones leaves a host of family and friends to cherish her memory here on earth including her husband Clifford “CJ” Jones, sons Lamare Jones (Zakeisha Jones), Devan Jones (Tonya Jones), and JD Jones, uncle Forest Johnson (Iola), siblings Denise Faye Armstrong, Sebron Lee “Joe” Toney, Michael Anthony Toney (Clay), granddaughters Zanae Deidre Jones (Steven Salgado), Kennedy Chanel Jones, Aliyah Angel Jones, Marley Noelle Jones, and Devyn Marie Jones; niece Joeline Leonard (Elijah), nephew Christopher Armstrong, niece Jamala Armstrong-Bell (Corey), nephews Alex Toney (Larissa), Gabryn Toney (Jeralyn), and Andrew Toney; cousins Brandy Jackson, Raymond Jackson, and Dave Anderson, in-laws Janet Finch, Charlotte Hollingsworth, Stevie Jones, Charlie Harris, plus a host of even more cousins, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews and extended family and friends all over Nevada, California, Washington, and Louisiana.

A visitation for Debra will be held Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Palm Mortuary - Cheyenne, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89129. A funeral will occur Friday, September 20, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89129. A graveside service will occur Friday, September 20, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 N Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131.