A Mother’s Mission: The Story Behind The Kyle Jones Foundation

Mark White | The Mark White Show

Rogersville, Alabama - Thanksgiving arrives tomorrow, and for many families it is a day filled with warmth, food, laughter, and tradition. For the Jones family of Lauderdale County, it is another holiday marked by an empty chair and a loss that still echoes through their home. In September of 2023, 19-year-old Kyle Jones died by suicide. His passing came twelve years after his father’s death in 2011, also by suicide.

At that time, I was a police officer in Rogersville and assisted in the search for Kyle’s father. Even with my connection to that moment, I did not know Kyle. What I know now is what his mother, Rebecca "Becky" Jones, has shared. The picture she paints is one of a young man full of life, generosity, humor, and heart.

Recently, Becky joined me for a deeply personal conversation on The Mark White Show. She spoke bravely about Kyle’s struggles, his kindness, and the mission she has now undertaken to make sure other families do not suffer the same loss. That mission is The Kyle Jones Foundation.

When asked to describe her son, Becky did not hesitate. "Kyle was that kid that everybody loved. You couldn’t help it. He had a personality that brightened a room the moment he walked in,” she said.

He was known for his humor, his lighthearted spirit, and his desire to make others feel good. If he could make your day better, he would. Becky described him as the type of young man who would give away his last five dollars without mentioning he had no more. He extended kindness freely, without judgment, and welcomed people exactly as they were.

Beneath that warmth and generosity, Kyle struggled with internal battles many never saw.

Kyle’s first experience with loss was one no child should carry. When he was seven years old, his father died by suicide. Becky chose honesty with her children, guided by mental health professionals who warned that secrecy could create deeper harm later. Trauma lingered, shaping Kyle in ways neither he nor his family fully understood at the time.

"As much as we talked about it, trauma still settles deep," Becky explained. "You don’t always see the effects until years later."

Kyle’s mental health challenges became more visible during his mid-teens. "At 15 and 16, he was acting out in ways that didn’t match who he really was," Becky said. Through this period, the family encountered a hard truth about how mental health shows itself differently in boys. The emotional distress common in girls often goes unnoticed in young men, who may instead be labeled as defiant or aggressive.

Kyle was eventually assigned to a juvenile probation officer, and unexpectedly, this turned out to be a blessing. "We were fortunate," Becky said. "His probation officer cared. He saw the difference between bad behavior and a mental health battle."

That support helped Kyle receive counseling and medical care, and over time, he made progress. He started a new job he liked. He seemed more grounded. He was still a teenager with things to work through, but he had stability. At least on the surface.

Even with professional help and family support, Kyle carried more inside than others could see. "He did not always believe his struggle was as serious as it was," Becky said. "Part of him didn’t want it to be true."

She explained something she learned only after her son’s passing: trauma and genetics both played roles in Kyle’s mental health challenges. "And when trauma stacks on genetics, the impact multiplies," she added. "You don’t always see it until later."

On September 10th, 2023, National Suicide Awareness Day, Kyle died by suicide. He was 19.

Some families collapse inward after tragedy. Others choose to step outward. Becky chose the latter. "The impact of suicide is never just one person," she said. "The pain ripples through families, friends, and entire communities."

With the help of her family and supporters, Becky created The Kyle Jones Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and practical support for struggling teens and their families.

"We want to catch these kids early," Becky said. "We want to help before it becomes a crisis."

The foundation offers:

• Assistance with counseling co-pays

• A growing list of mental health providers by age and specialty

• Resource tables in local high schools

• A monthly safe hangout night for kids called "Third Thursday"

• Community awareness events

• Parent support initiatives

Becky is also advocating for local data transparency. Lauderdale County has one of the highest mental health crisis rates in the state. Between January and July, documented data shows:

• A teen mental health crisis every three days

• A suicide attempt every three weeks

• Projected numbers doubling from 2024 to 2025 if the trend continues

"These numbers are not statistics," Becky said. "Each one is somebody’s somebody. A child. A grandchild. A friend."

One of the foundation’s biggest annual events is the Kyle Jones All Vehicle Show, a fundraiser designed to match Kyle’s love of anything that moved, cars, trucks, dirt bikes, anything with wheels.

"If Kyle could drive it, he would," Becky said. The show includes a special "Kyle Jones Award" given to the vehicle that best reflects his personality, humor, or spirit.

Kyle’s name has even appeared on race cars across the country. "He would find that hilarious," Becky laughed. "But he’d also be proud."

The foundation continues to grow. On December 12th, the first gala supporting The Kyle Jones Foundation will take place at The Chadwick Foundation in Florence. Funds raised will go directly into mental health support programs and youth initiatives across the county.

Becky is also working to form a local support group for parents who have lost children to suicide. "No one should feel alone," she said.

When asked how she takes care of herself, Becky admitted it can be difficult. "I tend to pour into everyone else," she said. But she has supportive friends who check in, counselors who guide her, and a sense of purpose that honors her son.

"I want to make sure other families don’t go through what we did," she said. "If what Kyle went through can help one child choose life, then the work is worth it."

The Kyle Jones Foundation can be found on:

• Facebook

• Instagram

• TikTok

• KyleJonesFoundation.org

They also monitor messages around the clock. "Reach out," Becky said. "We will help you find resources. We will walk with you."

Kyle mattered. His story matters. And because of The Kyle Jones Foundation, his life will continue to bring help, hope, and healing to others who walk difficult roads.

This Thanksgiving, the Jones family will gather with the weight of loss and the warmth of memory. Kyle will not be at the table, but his presence will be felt in every heart he touched.

Becky carries his legacy forward with courage and compassion. And through her work, lives will be saved.

From heartbreak comes purpose. From loss comes a legacy. And for Kyle Jones, that legacy is just beginning.