Dellwood Mayor Reggie Jones died on Friday.
No cause of death was given in a statement from the City of Dellwood that also mourned the official's loss.
"Mayor Jones was a dedicated public servant whose leadership, commitment, and love for the Dellwood community touched countless residents, employees, colleagues, and community partners," it said. "His service to our city and the relationships he built throughout the region have left a lasting impact that will not be forgotten."
The city did not announce transition plans or funeral arrangements.
Jones had held the position since 2013 and was known for helping the city make economic strides. Several businesses were destroyed along West Florissant Avenue in 2014 in the unrest following the police killing of Michael Brown Jr. in neighboring Ferguson.
"I didn't want people to forget about Dellwood and just soak everything into Ferguson, which still kind of happened," he told St. Louis Public Radio in 2024.
But by that year, Dellwood had started to see significant development along that corridor, including a $10 million, 42-unit senior living facility opened by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and a $10 million business plaza that broke ground in 2024.
Earlier this year, Dellwood voters approved a proposal to use $6 million in general obligation bonds for several West Florissant Avenue improvement projects.
"We are very creative in finding ways to make sure our residents are treated in a way that we understand they deserve," Jones said at the time.
Jones was born and raised in north St. Louis, according to an interview with Voyage STL. He held several offices before becoming mayor, including on the Riverview Gardens School Board and as Dellwood's collector of revenue and an alderman.
He also worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis for more than 30 years.
His peers, including St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, remembered Jones' contributions.
"For more than a decade, Mayor Reggie Jones led Dellwood with courage and compassion," Page wrote in a statement. "He was a devoted advocate for young people and a public servant who never stopped working to strengthen his community."
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