Right Worshipful Brother Jonce B. Chidister was born May 11, 1980 to RWB Walter (Tom) Chidister and Kandi Chidister of Malden, Missouri. On June 9, 1998, less than a month after graduating High School, RWB Chidister was initiated in Malden Lodge #406 before its merger with Four Mile Lodge #212 in Campbell later that year. Following his passing to the degree of Fellowcraft on June 23, he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on July 28, 1998. Â Shortly after his raising, RWB Chidister moved to Springfield, Missouri to attend Missouri State University.
While attending college in Springfield, RWB Chidister affiliated with Solomon Lodge #271, where he later served as an officer and Masonic Home Representative. Following his graduation from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, RWB Chidister moved to Columbia, Missouri to attend the University Missouri School of Law, graduating with his J.D. in 2005. While in Columbia, RWB Chidister additionally affiliated with Twilight (now Acacia-Twilight) Lodge #114 and continues to hold membership in all three subordinate lodges.
After law school, RWB Chidister returned to Southeast Missouri to begin his law career, first as an Assistant Public Defender, then as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Dunklin County, a position he held from 2006 until 2016. He currently practices with the firm of Dalton, Mowrer and Chidister, LLP in Kennett where he advises local governments, corporations, and a variety of other clients on civil law matters. He also serves as guardian ad litem advocating for children in the foster care system.
RWB Chidister served as Master of Four Mile Lodge #212 in 2006. At the conclusion of his term in 2007, he was appointed District Deputy Grand Lecturer of the 40th Masonic District in 2007 and served in that capacity for thirteen consecutive years. In addition to his service as DDGL, RWB has served the Grand Lodge of Missouri as a member of the Committee on By-Laws since 2010, serving as chair from 2012-2015, and the Committee on Jurisprudence since 2012, serving as chair from 2015 until his appointment as Senior Grand Marshal in 2021. Through his committee service, RWB Chidister has drafted numerous legislative changes to the Grand Lodge By-Laws, most notably the 2014 revision to the Grand Lodge Trial Code.
In addition to his blue lodge memberships, RWB Chidister is a member of the Missouri Lodge of Research, Springfield York Rite Bodies, Red Cross of Constantine, Royal Order of Scotland, and the Valley of Joplin Scottish Rite, where he received the Thirty-Third Degree in 2019.
RWB Chidister continues to live in his hometown of Malden with his wife, Danielle, whom he married in 2009. He is a member and deacon of First Southern Baptist Church of Malden and has served on a number of boards for local and state charitable organizations.