The Family of the Honorable Wilmer Jones-Ham
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Contact: Pastor Benjamin Smith
Publicist
989-482-7632
[email protected]
Remembering the Profound Legacy of the Honorable Wilmer Jones-Ham
Saginaw, Michigan- It is with profound sadness to announce the passing of longtime City of Saginaw, Michigan resident the Honorable Evangelist Wilmer Jones-Ham, M.Ed., who transitioned on Monday, September 8, 2025, following a sudden medical emergency at MyMichigan Health in Saginaw.
She has been a public servant for over five decades at the municipal, state, and national levels. Jones-Ham is a distinguished alumnus of the Saginaw Public School District, graduating from Saginaw High School's class of 1968. She continued her educational pursuits, earning an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Delta College and a bachelor’s degree in Supervision and Administration from Saginaw Valley State University. She subsequently earned her Master of Education Degree in 1988. Evangelist Ham is also a graduate of the Leadership Institute Saginaw. Prior to her retirement in 2007, she was employed by Saginaw Public Schools as a teacher for 27 years.
The Honorable Ham was appointed to the City of Saginaw Council in 1994 and served diligently until 2021, when she became the first woman to serve as Saginaw's mayor, a position she held until 2005, followed by her tenure as mayor pro tem. Her term concluded on Monday, November 5, 2007, after fourteen years of service, during which she attended 5,563 engagements as a National Motivational Speaker, soloist at funerals, meetings, community, state, and national events, while also serving as the community liaison person for the City of Saginaw.
She is survived by her three loving children, DeRonnie Turner, DeToya and Darvin Ham. She is a proud grandmother and great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, godmother, and friend.
The community is cordially invited to commemorate the profound legacy beginning Thursday, September 18th from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., where she will lie in repose at her church, Word of Faith International Ministries, located at 500 N. Washington Ave., Saginaw, MI 48607. A funeral service, titled Celebration of Legacy, will follow on Friday, September 19th, with viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon and the service commencing at 12 Noon at the Dow Event Center, located at 300 Johnson Street, Saginaw, Michigan 48607. Her final resting place will be at Roselawn Memorial Gardens with Entombment. The attire for the service is requested to be Black and Gold. Resolutions and condolences may be emailed to [email protected] by September 17, 2025.
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