Portrait of Salt Jones. IMB Photo

Millard Daniel (Salt) Jones, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Taiwan and Canada, died Oct. 1, 2025, in Mississippi. He was 72. 

Salt was born May 27, 1953, in Sweetwater, Texas, to M.C. Jones and Ann Jones. He graduated from Quitaque (Texas) High School and received the Bachelor of Arts from East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, and the Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.  

In 1979, Salt was called to his first full-time ministry position at Memorial Baptist Church in Baytown, Texas. He served there as minister of youth and activities until 1981 when he returned to seminary to pursue post-graduate study. In 1982, he spent six months as a volunteer missionary in Taiwan and began serving as an associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Plainview, Texas.  

While seeking missionary appointment he wrote, “At East Texas Baptist College, God began dealing with my heart concerning missions. God was constantly placing international students in my life, and a love for them began growing in my heart. … Realizing the great need outside the Bible belt, I began praying for God’s direction concerning missions. In 1982, I went to Taiwan as a volunteer missionary for six months. … After returning to America, I knew my heart was left in another country.” 

In 1985, the International Mission Board appointed Salt missionary to Taiwan, where he served in student evangelism. On March 2, 1991, he married IMB missionary Susan Puckett. Together, they served in Canada, working among students in campus evangelism and church planting. Salt also served the Canadian National Baptist Convention as the national team leader for student ministry and missions. 

He was preceded in death by his father, M.C. Jones. 

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Susan Puckett Jones; his mother, Ann Jones Chadwick; brother Teddy Rea “Pepper” Jones (Marla); sister Mary Jane “Candy” Jones Kern (Michael); nieces, nephews, and extended family members.  

A funeral service was held Nov. 8 at First Baptist Church in Quitaque. 

Donations in his memory may be made to the Lottie Moon Offering, IMB, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230, or online at Generosity Resource Center – IMB Generosity.  

Read an obituary here.