Barbara O. Jones dead at 82: Revered actress appeared in films such as Daughters of the Dust and Bush Mama
- She died Tuesday at the age of 82 at her home in Dayton, Ohio, her brother said
- Notable films included 1991’s Daughters of the Dust and 1979’s Bush Mama
- Jones had also appeared in a number of prominent 1970s TV shows, including Wonder Woman, Laverne & Shirley and Lou Grant.
Actress Barbara O. Jones died Tuesday at the age of 82 at her home in Dayton, Ohio, according to her brother Raymond Minor.
Minor confirmed The Hollywood Reporter the death of his sibling, who the outlet called a “part of the LA Rebellion film movement of the 1970s” with appearances in a series of culturally relevant films of the era.
The films include the 1973 short Child of Resistance, 1977 Diary of an African Nun for writer-director Julie Dash, 1979 Bush Mama for writer-director Haile Gerima, and the 1979 NBC miniseries Freedom Road, in which she acted opposite the late Muhammad Ali.
Jones played a nun in Uganda who gave an introspection on her religion in Diary of an African Nun from Dash, a 13-minute student film based on a short story by Alice Walker. The film also starred Marnita Carraway, Fred Carraway, Donald Carraway Jr., Sherry Madden and Barbara Young.
Another notable film role Jones had was 1991’s Daughters of the Dust from Dash, in which she played the role of Yellow Mary under the screen name Barbara-O.
Actress Barbara O. Jones died Tuesday at the age of 82 at her home in Dayton, Ohio, according to her brother Raymond Minor. Depicted in 1991’s Daughters of the Dust
In the film’s storyline, Yellow Mary had arrived home to her grandparents’ island home off the coast of Georgia.
The film, which also starred Cora Lee Day and Alva Rogers, was the first American feature film directed by an African-American woman to receive general theatrical release, according to THR.
The film was also shown at the Sundance Film Festival and was named after the from the British Film Institute list of the best movies of all time.
Dash took to Instagram on Wednesday with an image of Jones in costume from Diary of an African Nun.
‘Barbara O. ca. 1977. From the diary of an African nun. Rest in peace and strength,” Dash said.
According to THR, Child of Resistance and Bush Mama were both created at UCLA.
In Child of Resistance, Jones portrayed a woman “inspired by activist Angela Davis,” according to THR, who was caught up in a struggle for social justice.
In Bush Mama, Jones played Dorothy, described by the outlet as a “welfare recipient in Watts who undergoes an ideological transformation.”
In 1991’s Daughters of the Dust, Jones played the role of Yellow Mary under the screen name Barbara-O. Alva Rogers, Jones and Cora Lee Day appeared in the film
Daughters of the Dust writer-director Julie Dash posted to Instagram on Wednesday an image of Jones in costume from Diary of an African Nun
The film was a 13-minute student film based on a short story by Alice Walker
Jones appeared opposite Muhammad Ali in the 1979 NBC miniseries Freedom Road
Jones had also appeared in a number of prominent TV shows of the era, including Wonder Woman in 1977, Laverne & Shirley in 1977 and Lou Grant in 1978.
She appeared in the 1999 drama Mute Love for filmmaker Patrice Mallard, opposite Nicole Ari Parker, Teja Frank and Otto Sanchez.
Other projects Jones was involved with included the 1971 science fiction/horror film Black Chariot; the 1977 horror film Demon Seed and the 2001 drama Maangamizi: The Ancient One, which marked her final appearance in front of the cameras.
Jones, born Barbara Olivia Minor in Dayton Ohio, was in radio before she got into acting, as she had a show on station WDAO in the 1960s under the name Bobbie Montgomery, according to THR.
Jones is survived by children Gina and William, and another brother Marlon.