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William
Jones
"My mother and Nelson Mandela are the most
important people in my life. My mother, because she showed me how to
endure pain and still stand strong. She was physically abused at the
hands of my father for well over 30 years, but never shared the effect
of this abuse with her kids, only her love and the divine love of Jesus
Christ.
"Nelson Mandela, for he persevered through his incarceration and
became a great leader of his country. Once he headed the country, he
never shared the effect of his imprisonment on his oppressors. He only
revealed to them his wisdom and humanity.
"Why are they so important to me? Because they live their lives
to help others. No matter what they went through they remain strong
and never stop loving. My mother’s love was for her children. Nelson’s
love was for his people.
I was born July 15, 1955 in Memphis, Tennessee, the tenth child out
of eleven. I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois;
and East Saint Louis, Illinois. I have been on death row for 21 years.
I would like people to know that we on death row are part of America
and what you do to us, you also do to yourself.
I started writing twenty years ago and painting with oils and watercolors
ten years ago. My work is inspired by God. I believe that we are all
somebody in the eyes of God. If you have my work, you have the best
of me.''
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