Mother Ella V. Jones

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister and friend, Mother Ella V. Jones, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, August 15, 2016 at 6:20 a.m. Age 91 years. Mother Jones was born September 15, 1924 in New Madrid, Missouri to the late Rev. Johnnie S. Lee and Emma L. Davis-Lee.
Mother Jones accepted Christ at an early age. She attended Chickemo School in Berclair, Mississippi with a special friend, Alice Perryman. Affectionately known by her family as Honey, she helped her mother with tending to her younger brothers and sisters. Mother Jones married the late Deacon Jessie L. Jones, Sr in 1943. To this union 10 children were born, 8 girls and 2 boys.
Mother Jones moved to Saginaw, Michigan in January 1970. She worked for the Saginaw Commission on Aging as a housekeeper. She also helped raise and care for numerous children, including several nieces and nephews. One of her most proud accomplishments was learning how to drive. Soon after that, she devoted her time to driving other senior citizen women to the community center, where she was dearly loved.
While searching for a church home, Mother Jones immediately fell deeply in love with and joined Bethesda Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Dr. Nick Hall Jr. She served faithfully for 46 years as a member of the Mothers Board and Missionary Society. She loved her spiritual sisters, Mothers Roberta Franklin, Cora Mitchell and Dorothy Harris, and her spiritual daughters, Bonnie Dunbar, Earleen Smithers and Katherine ODaniel. She was also well-known for her anointed singing around Saginaw. Many of her most memorable songs are, Jesus Dropped the Charges, Jesus, He Works That Way, One More Sunny Day, Take a Trip/Jesus Will Fix It and Get Your House in Order!
Mother Jones loved to cook and was adored for her homemade dressing. Her advice to all cooks was and always will be, Dont you make no poor food! Her joys of life included being with her family and friends, traveling, gardening, attending church and listening to Michael Jackson. Her favorite song was Billy Jean and her favorite verse from, The way You Make Me Feel, was Aint nobodys business but mine and my baby take a hint, mind your own business!
Mother Jones leaves to cherish her loving memory her wonderful children, Johnnie M. Simmons Saginaw, Michigan; James (Evelyn) Jones, Sr., Tampa, Florida; Bessie V. Jones, Lessie J. (Jack) Williams, Sr., and Mary E. Burns of Chicago, Illinois, Annie O. (Dea. Grady) Hull, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Eliza (Dea. Walter) Bailey, Sr., Chicago, Illinois, Ella M. Jones, Saginaw, Michigan, Minister Jessie L. Jones, Jr, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Emma R. (Roma) Edwards Saginaw, Michigan; a very special son, Dr. Gary (Gloria) Brooks, M.D., Saginaw, Michigan; siblings Pinkie Sanders, Chicago, Illinois, Ora M. Loveless, L.H. (Davida) Lee, Alberta Austin, Davis Suga Lee, Gladys Humes, Vivian (M.C.) Tarkington and Tina (Willie) Bond all of Saginaw, Michigan; sister-in-law, Vera Branch, St. Louis Missouri; her legacy will live on through 33 grandchildren, 77 great-grandchildren and 46 great-great grandchildren, totaling 156, a host of nieces, nephews, special cousins, the Purnells of Itta Bena, Mississippi, her Bethesda Baptist Church family and fellow choir members and many other family-friends.
Her brothers, Reverend James Anderson Lee, Preston Lee and Benjamin Lee preceded Mother Jones in death.
The family would like to express gratitude to the staff of Covenant VNA Hospice, Nurses and Aides, Ms. Mary, Neema, Melissa, Adrianna and Anchica, Dr. Edward Jackson, Helping Hands Nursing Services, A&D Home Health Care, Bishop Elect & Mrs. Larry D. Camel and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Gregory A. Johnson and Bethesda Baptist Church Family, Pastor Marvin T. Smith and Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church Family, Mr. Ivan E. Phillips, Ms. Mary McDonald and the Paradise Funeral Chapel Staff.