

Debra Jones, lovingly known to her family as Ma-Mayi, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 74. She was born on July 29, 1951, in Frankfort, Kentucky, and later made St. Louis her home, where she built a life grounded in family and service.
Ma-Mayi dedicated many years of her professional life to Washington University in St. Louis, where she worked in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. She retired in December 2018, leaving behind a legacy of commitment to education, cultural understanding, and thoughtful service. She was also an active member of Union Avenue Christian Church. She led with kindness and integrity in both her professional and personal life.
Above all, Ma-Mayi was devoted to her circle of family and friends. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest joy came from time spent with those she loved. Known for her quiet strength, gentle wisdom, and joyful smile, she was a source of comfort and stability to many. Her love and influence will continue to live on through the generations she nurtured.
Those She Leaves to Cherish Her Memory
Daughter
Krishnah Jones
Grandchildren
Christopher Jones
Jerome Trigg
Morgan Hobbs
Marcus Gay (girlfriend: Michelle Like)
Malena Jones
Great-Grandchildren
Aori Gay
Marcus Gay, Jr.
Braylen Scott
Milo Gay
Aniyhai Mosley
Aayonna Like
Anyah Winston
Sibling
William Thomas (Tommy) Hedges, Jr. (wife: Carla Hedges)
Stepmother
Louise Singleton Hedges, South Carolina
Half-Siblings
Pattie Hedges Branham
Connie Hedges
Ray Hedges
Nephews
Christopher Carl Hedges
Warren Patrick Hedges
She is also survived by Hula Vaughn, a cherished companion and close presence in her life.
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Those Who Preceded Her in Death
Christine Wilson (Hedges), mother
William Thomas Hedges, father
Visitation will be held at Union Avenue Christian Church, located at 733 Union Blvd # 300, St. Louis, MO 63108, on December 18, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 pm.
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