Johnetta Jones, 56, died Saturday in Springfield of a severe infection compromised by E. coli.

She was the director of the Minority Affairs Office and employed on campus for 26 years.

Priscilla Wininger, Ms. Jones’ office assistant, said Ms. Jones was already sick with an infection, she sometime ingested the E. coli and “because she was already weakened, it took over.

“It’s not like Jack in the Box where 12 people get sick … you just can’t track it. The doctor said we will probably never know where and when.”

Dr. Joseph Wall, medical director of Health Services, said everybody has E. coli.

For the most part “E. coli is a good thing, it helps the digestive tract work,” Wall said.

“It’s normal; it’s found in your digestive tract.”

“The problem is it could be harmful if it is out of the tract,” he said. “Where it gets into places it shouldn’t.”

There are different strains of bad E. coli, some worse than others.

“We see E. coli urinary infection 12 to 15 times a day,” Wall said.

Eating meat not properly cooked can cause an infection in the digestion tract. This is uncommon E. coli. These contaminated meats are a bad strain of E. coli. It is more common in children and causes severe disease.

A director and a friend

Cynthia Nichols, director of the Civil Rights Office, said Ms. Jones had a large impact on the university.

“Who she was, was extraordinary (she was) committed to the success of students and of Eastern,” Nichols said.

“I really feel she made a tremendous contribution to Eastern.

“For me, I’m going to have a very difficult time knowing I’m not going to be able to brainstorm issues with her or share a good laugh.”

Nichols said Ms. Jones had a great sense of humor.

“She was always someone I could talk to or laugh with … She was a very warm, affectionate person, always willing to give you a big hug.”

Nichols said Ms. Jones was not married and did not have any children, but was a devoted aunt.

CeCi Brinker, director of the Student Life Office, Minority Affairs and Student Life collaborated on a lot of different things and Brinker knew Ms. Jones well.

“We developed a pretty good working relationship because of that,” Brinker said. “She was a friend for me.

“Johnetta was a person in the know, looked to for answers for questions as well as support.”

Brinker said Ms. Jones served on and chaired various committees on campus.

“I think anyone you asked who knew her would say a good way to describe her would be as a go-to person and a person in the know. Hands down, it would be Johnetta Jones and she built a reputation on that.

“She was a definite people person. Johnetta could relate to just about anyone regardless of their background,” Brinker said. “Whether it be personal or work related, people consulted and confided in her for support and for help.”

Brinker said Ms. Jones was “someone you could relate to; the type of person that understood people. She made it a point to know people on both a professional and personal level.

“It just seems like everyone on campus knew her, respected her and had a really good rapport with her and I think it speaks volumes on the type of person she was and the level of respect and admiration that people had for her just within the Eastern community.”

Kelly Jackson, a speech communication graduate student, said she has known Ms. Jones since her freshmen year when she was in the Gateway Program.

“Once I was out of the program, I knew I could always talk to her and any member of the faculty. She made it seem like a family.”

Jackson had recently started a graduate assistance position in the Minority Affairs Office with Ms. Jones.

Working with Ms. Jones, Jackson said she “gave me bits and pieces of advice that have helped me with graduate school. She always shared experiences she had with me.”

Nichols is organizing a service with the staff of Minority Affairs and the Student Life office for Ms. Jones. Nichols said students are also actively involved. The service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday in the Grand ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr.University Union.

James H. Walker, who runs Jackson Funeral Home in Carbondale, will be taking care of Ms. Jones’ arrangements. Arrangements have not been set yet, but “will be held Saturday, but probably at one of the bigger churches in Carbondale.”

Ms. Jones’s family resides in Carbondale, Ill.

Campus Editor Jennifer Chiariello can be reached at [email protected].