Laura Ann Jones

LAURA ANN JONES was born on January 15, 1930, to the union of Velma Brown and William English in Holly Grove, Arkansas. She was raised by her grandparents, Millie and Sam Brown. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, grandparents, and three children: Peggy, Brenda, and Richard Jr.

She attended grade school at Mayo Hall and completed the eighth grade twice, as her town did not have a high school. She begged her grandmother to send her to boarding school, which she loved as an only child. She graduated from Fargo Agriculture in 1949.

After graduating high school, she moved to Saint Louis to live with her mother and stepfather.

As a child, she worked in the cotton fields, chopping cotton under the hot summer sun and picking cotton in the fall.

At the age of 12, she joined and was baptized at I John Baptist Church, walking to church every Sunday with her grandmother. After moving to Saint Louis, Missouri, she joined Christ Southern Mission Baptist Church and sang in the youth choir. She loved to sing, a passion that began in high school, and she took every opportunity to do so. In 1969, she joined Christ Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church under the pastorage of Reverend E.R. William, where she remained a member until her passing.

She met Richard Jones, and they were married on July 3, 1951. They spent 49 years together. To their union, seven children were born—five girls and two boys. She would later write, “It was not easy raising them, yet with lots of prayers and patience, we made it through."

Once her children reached school age, she took a job as a cook for sixty retired nuns at a Catholic convent. She worked there until the birth of her youngest son. Later, a friend referred her to a position at Delmar Gardens Rest Home. Although she had no prior experience as a nurse’s aide, she had always wanted to try. Her friend taught her everything she needed to know, and she eventually became certified. She worked in private duty and on the floor from 1972 to 1995, retiring at the age of 65 after 22 years of service.

Laura Ann Jones loved to cook and spend time with her family. She would cook every Sunday, and everyone was invited. She cherished going to church and singing in the choir. She also joined the Progressive District Mass Choir, even though she couldn’t drive. Her good friend Hallie Harris would pick her up, and the two of them attended every rehearsal and most performances.

She continued singing in the choir at Christ Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church until her health declined.

She leaves to cherish her memory four children: Denise, Anthony (Rita), Esther, and Elfirma (Billy); 19 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, her church family, and friends.