JOE MANNS BLACK WALL STREET AWARDS WOODLAWN 2026 • JUNE 4, 2026 DERRICK JONES
2026 Honoree | Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards – Woodlawn
“If you can’t help them up, don’t put your foot on their neck. Don’t look down on people. Be fair.” – Derrick Jones
(BALTIMORE – June 3, 2026) – A proud graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Class of 1982, Derrick Jones came up competing on both sides of the line of scrimmage — offensive center and linebacker on the varsity football team. That same grit and discipline would carry him through everything that followed.
After high school, Derrick pursued mortuary science at Catonsville Community College, then earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, beginning at the University of Baltimore and completing his studies at the University of Maryland Global Campus. His academic foundation would prove as diverse as his professional path.
Few careers reflect the kind of breadth Derrick has achieved. He worked at Bethlehem Steel. He served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He gained hands-on experience in the funeral profession at March Funeral Homes and Kenneth Law Funeral Home. It was Kenneth Law himself who saw something in Derrick — and encouraged him to pursue business ownership. That encouragement changed the trajectory of his life.
Today, Derrick is the owner of Derrick C. Jones Funeral Home on Park Heights Avenue, where he has served countless Baltimore families with dignity, compassion, and professionalism during some of their most difficult moments for the past 38 years. In the business of death, Derrick brings life — the kind grounded in care, community, and calling.
Beyond the business, Derrick remains deeply rooted in the institutions that shaped him. As a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and president of the Dunbar Alumni Association, he works tirelessly to preserve the legacy of his alma mater while investing in the next generation of Baltimore’s leaders. Further, he is the President of the Pleasant Yacht Club, the only Black club in Baltimore with its own marina for boaters.
Known for his fairness, humility, and willingness to lift others without expectation of recognition, Derrick Jones embodies the spirit of Black Wall Street. His journey — from the football fields of Dunbar to the boardrooms and service rooms he occupies today — is a testament to what happens when talent meets values.
For his dedication to business, community service, and leadership, we proudly recognize DERRICK JONES as a 2026 Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards Woodlawn Honoree.
RSVP: blackwallstreetwoodlawn.eventbrite.com
6665 Security Blvd, Woodlawn, MD | June 4, 2026 | 6 to 8 pm
