William H. Jones

Retired Maj. William Harding Jones, 89, died Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, in Petersburg, Va.

He was predeceased by Isabel "Flora" Azul Jones (1919-2004), his wife of nearly 60 years.

A son of the late Ardella Robinson Jones and the late Rev. Moses J. Jones of Arlington, Ala., Maj. Jones is survived by a daughter, Stella Nuiko Jones Draughon (Roland) of Laverock, Pa.; two granddaughters, Marcia D. Draughon of Collegeville, Pa., and Ericka D. Brown, M.D. (Aaron) of Olympia Fields, Ill.; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Emma Jones of Bowie, Md., and Mary Cephus of Detroit, Mich.; a brother, James Jones (Frances) of Easton, Pa.; a sister-in-law, Jessica Jones (the late J.C. Jones) of Arlington, Ala., and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

With 21 years of U.S. Army service that included World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam era, he retired for the first time in 1963 and enrolled at the age of 42 as a freshman at Virginia State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in history and teaching credentials from VSU in 1967. The first assignment of his new career took him to Southside High School where he taught social studies to students in grades nine through 12. Following school integration in 1969, he spent the remainder of his second career at Dinwiddie County Senior High School where he exclusively taught U.S. and Virginia government. Simultaneously, he earned a master's degree in social studies education in 1974 from Virginia State University. He was an active member of the National Education Association (NEA), the National Council for Teachers of Social Studies and the Virginia Association of Student Council Advisors. In 1985, he retired again after 18 years as a public school teacher.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at the Chapel of William N. Bland & Son Funeral Home, Petersburg. The Rev. William N. Bland Jr., pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, Petersburg, will officiate. Interment will follow in Southlawn Memorial Park, Petersburg. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. at the chapel on Monday evening. The family is also asked to assemble at the residence, 1036 Augusta Ave., Petersburg, at 9 a.m. on the day of the service.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the staff of William N. Bland & Son Funeral Home, Petersburg. Condolences may be left at www.blandenterprisesinc.com.