Girlfriends Star Tells What Happened When Tracee Ross Introduced Her To Diana

Posted On : July 13, 2017

Ever wondered where the actress from the hit early 2000’s sitcom, Girlfriends, disappeared to? Well if so, you’re in luck, because she’s been “hiding” (not really) in plain sight and we found her.

What This Girlfriends Actress Does Now

It’s been about eleven years since most of us have seen the actress who played the flip talking semi-stuck up ‘Girlfriend,’ “Antoinette ‘Toni’ Marie Childs-Garrett.” Her real name is Jill Marie Jones and she brought a lotta character to the show.

In recent years, she’s continued to work, with her most recent roles being as a recurring character on the Fox series, Sleepy Hollow, and in a Starz horror-comedy series, titled, Ash vs Evil Dead.

Jill Marie Jones

Although Jill’s continued to appear in various projects, most of us, Old Schoolers, probably haven’t seen her lately, but does, however make her presence known on social media with her regular Instagram posts.

Ageless Beauty

Checking her out now, there’s one thing that stands out about her: At 42 years old, she’s barely changed in eleven years! In fact, she looks the exact same way she did in 2006, when she last appeared on Girlfriends.

Jill Explains What Happened…

Tracee Ellis Ross and her superstar moms, Diana Ross

Speaking of her Instagram posts, that’s where she told a cool story about the time her Girlfriend co-star/real life friend, Tracee Ellis Ross, surprised her by taking her to meet her mom, Diana Ross. Jill revealed how Diana has always been her idol, so she was blown away when Tracee pulled that surprise on her. She had nothing but beautiful things to say about their meeting though. Here’s what she described of that moment:

This Amazing Force & Talented Soul was the first black woman (brown like me) that I saw in a lead role in a film. #LadySingsTheBlues will always hold a special place for me. That's when this little black girl from Texas knew that she could do that too …or at least try. @traceeellisross (my forever sister and Girlfriend) knew how much her moms legacy meant to me …so once when we were in New York (Upfronts) she says, "What are you doing tomorrow, are you flying back to LA?" I say, "No, I'm here for another week." She says, "Do you wanna come to Greenwich for lunch tomorrow? My mom will be there." I LOST MY SH**!!! One of the best gifts I've ever received. I remember sitting there (in their beautiful house of beautiful memories) trying to be cool but inside …I was going nuts!!! I'm meeting one of my idols! Who gets to do that?! Mind Blown! That was the first time I met this living Legend. Thank you T ❤ …and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ms. D #DianaRoss ❤

A post shared by Jill Marie Jones (@itsmejillmarie) on

@itsmejillmarie: This Amazing Force & Talented Soul was the first black woman (brown like me) that I saw in a lead role in a film. #LadySingsTheBlues will always hold a special place for me. That’s when this little black girl from Texas knew that she could do that too …or at least try. @traceeellisross (my forever sister and Girlfriend) knew how much her moms legacy meant to me …so once when we were in New York (Upfronts) she says, “What are you doing tomorrow, are you flying back to LA?” I say, “No, I’m here for another week.” She says, “Do you wanna come to Greenwich for lunch tomorrow? My mom will be there.” I LOST MY SH**!!! One of the best gifts I’ve ever received. I remember sitting there (in their beautiful house of beautiful memories) trying to be cool but inside …I was going nuts!!! I’m meeting one of my idols! Who gets to do that?! Mind Blown! That was the first time I met this living Legend. Thank you T ❤ …and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ms. D #DianaRoss ❤

Jill’s ‘losing her sh**’ reaction seems appropriate…’the boss’ Ms. Ross has a way of doing that to folks with her elegance and ever-iconic presence. Just ask India Arie

About I Love Old School Music

We salute the incredible people and beautiful memories of that "old school". We’re not saying that every artist and every facet of the soul era was perfect, but the artists’ contributions to soul music and the old school memories of that particular time are PRICELESS.