Steven Carnell Jones

Steven Carnell Jones was born on August 30, 1967, in Halley, Arkansas. He was the youngest child and son of the beloved and late Floretta Jones. He received Christ at an early age at Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Halley, AR. On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, he peacefully departed this life at his home in Russellville, Arkansas.

Steven graduated from Dermott High School in 1986. After graduating from high school, he pursued higher education at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) majoring in Industrial Technology. While attending UAPB he also pledged Kappa Alpha Psi (Gamma Sigma Chapter) in 1989. His line name was Starving Steven, and you could always expect to see him stepping at family reunions.

During high school Steven worked at Weisman’s Department Store in Dermott, Arkansas and while attending UAPB he worked at First South Federal Savings and Loan as a Computer Operator responsible for the daily backups of bank transactions for over 48 banks located throughout the state of Arkansas. He would often share great memories of working inside the savings and loan institution.

Steven was also a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan and wore his Dallas Cowboys gear regardless of whether Dallas was winning or losing. When the Cowboys won games, the family could expect to hear from him immediately; when the Cowboys lost games he went missing. Steven always looked forward to the Floretta Jones Family Reunions where we spent priceless time laughing and reminiscing about growing up in Halley, Arkansas broke, blessed and happy. Family reunions won’t be the same without him. Steven spent the last decades of his life in Russellville, Arkansas where he became a part of the Russellville community and loved by so many wonderful people.

Steven was preceded in death by his mother Floretta Jones; sisters Francella Reese and Maxine Jones; brother-in-law Kenzie Wallace.

He leaves to cherish his memory:

Sons Steven (Anna) Franklin (Fort Smith, AR), Ekindu Franklin (Fort Smith, AR); grandchildren: Hadley Franklin, Sydney Franklin and Naomi Franklin (Fort Smith, AR); brothers Clarence (Ann) Jones (Fort Smith, AR), Thomas (Ella) Jones (Chicago, ILL), Bobby (Brenda) Jones (Fort Smith, AR) and Marvin (Gloria) Jones (Fort Washington, MD); sisters: Annette (Gary) Nalls (Monticello, AR) and Sharon Wallace (Madison, MS); and host of nieces and nephews.