Jessie Jones, 1950 – 2026

Actress and writer Jessie Jones, 75, died on March 20 (most of her obits trumpet her as “Murphy Brown Star,” but she appeared in one episode—must have given Candice Bergen quite a turn!). Jones also showed up in such TV series as Newhart, Night Court, Designing Women, Perfect Strangers, Who’s the Boss?, Caroline in the City, and Melrose Place; she also wrote the play Dearly Departed, and episodes of the series For Your Love and Teacher’s Pet. Her family wrote that “Jessie decided to leave Hollywood and return to the theater to write comedies full-time, and she chose for her partners in this venture her best friend Nick Hope, and the Southern born-and-bred sitcom writer, Jamie Wooten. Together they formed a writing triumvirate - Jones Hope Wooten - specializing in Southern-flavored comedies. Their laugh-out-loud plays, like The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, The Red Velvet Cake War, Christmas Belles, The Savannah Sipping Society and twenty-six other titles in their vast catalogue, have been produced in every state in America, as well as twenty-five other countries . . . There is never a weekend where several Jones Hope Wooten shows aren't playing somewhere. The Jones Hope Wooten motto has always been, 'Making the World a Happier Place.’”