Constance Juanita Jones

Constance Juanita Jones '103, a native of Chicago, Illinois, was born on August 4th, 1922, to the union of Clifton and Mabel Fulmore. She was the eldest of two children.In her early years Connie lived with her family in the thriving Woodlawn community. She attended Carter Elementary School and graduated from Englewood High School.Always a serious and disciplined student she received her Bachelor of Science degree from The Illinois Institute of Technology in 1946 and a Master of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University in 1975.Connie spent her entire career in the field of education working as a primary school teacher. Her first position was at Herman Felsenthal Elementary, and for many years Arthur Dixon Elementary School in the neighborhood of Chatham.For her, education was the lifeblood of advancement. She set high standards for her young students, many of whom went on to successful careers. When meeting family members over the years her former students remembered her as a strict, yet caring teacher who inspired personal discipline and an ongoing desire to learn, thus serving as an excellent foundation for achieving their personal goals later in life.In 1943, she married the love of her life Moses Jones affectionately known as "Mutt" by all that knew and loved him. Shortly before they their 4th child was born, they purchased a home in Chatham. Together they established Your Electrical Service, a thriving business that served the entire Southside of Chicago and beyond. Through his master tradesmanship and work ethic, and her sense of class and style, they created bridges with communities outside of their own.Connie loved her home in the hamlet called Chatham. In earlier days it was a hamlet surrounded majestic elm trees and evergreens. She loved to plant and nurture her red and white geranium flowers among the evergreens in the front yard. This was a habit she acquired from her German grandmother who once lived only a block away in the late 1800s. At home she was a lioness with her cubs, Lender, Sumner, Garland and Cathy.Protecting, teaching and exposing them to the best things had to offer. It was a home of organized chaos. Bridge parties, Mutt's famous backyard barbecues, Church attendance at St. Dorothy Church on Sundays. Music was prevalent if not a constant. Trained as a classical pianist, Connie loved to play the piano with Garland accompanying. Wes Montgomery, doo wops and early Motown for Sumner and Lender. Billy Ekstein and Nancy Williams for Connie and Mutt. There were also family dates to George Diamond Steak Restaurant on Wabash Ave., Mutt's favorite restaurant. Connie loved beautiful things and in always looking her best. There were shopping trips to Marshall Field on State Street and other fine stores on Michigan Avenue.  She could be extra kind at times and always observant. Once when shopping at Field's young Garland saw a Dick Tracy action figure with a badge and holster. He assured his mother that was all he wanted forever. She demurred.  How happy he was to see them under the family Christmas tree months later.Connie was an excellent cook and loved to entertain. Her bridge club “crew” consisted of some of her oldest friends. They would round robin host monthly on Fridays. She served delicious food on tables set with lovely pink linen tablecloths. Mutt would serve drinks. Throughout 58 years of marriage, they always helped each other. Her grandmother filled the house with the smell of fresh baked roles that she was still basting. All the while Pepper the wayward stray collie was waiting in the flowerpot on the front porch for her friends to arrive!Grandmother was still basting rolls. Pepper, the wayward hound would sit in the flowerpot awaiting their arrival, she tolerated her children’s love for animals but had a fear of birds.This was severely tested when George the parakeet got free of his cage, causing her to run away, and after falling to the floor, he landed on her shoulder.Connie was an avid traveler. Beginning in the early 1960s she traveled with friends during summer and often taking her youngest child Cathy along. she had She had traveled throughout much of the world by the time she retired from teaching.After her retirement from the Chicago Public School System, she continued to travel. Always a doer, she continued to serve in various organizations.She served as a trustee and treasurer for the Church of the Good Shepherd, Congregational of which her grandmother, Mary Lee Arrington, was a founding member. She also served on the Women's Board of the American Cancer Society for many years. She was a former member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for over 40 years and former member of the Women's Athletic Club of Chicago.Connie and Moses would later move to Olympia Fields. It was bittersweet as she had outlived many of her friends. She took the advice of someone who told her, “Make new friends.” She joined the Olympia Fields Women’s Club and found new bridge partners. Continuing to travel together and enjoying life in a new venue until her husband's passing in May of 2001. The lioness continued on but slowly the health of her new friends began declining.    She told her children “No more making new friends.”As her health began to decline, she enjoyed visits from her children, grand and great-grandchildren and neighbors and the children of friends that kept her in their hearts. She always enjoyed watching a good love story. Finally, she worked to remember stories of the old days to assist in her daughter's ancestry and genealogical pursuits which now exceeds 9 generations of discovery.Tired yet peaceful, the lioness passed to glory February 14th, 2026, at the age of 103. Her beloved brother, John Henry Arrington also preceded her in death.Constance J. Jones was a jewel of Chicago. Poised, elegant, reserved yet spirited. To remember her is to understand the early days of the Woodlawn and Chatham Communities out which she was born and blossomed. She was the product of an of extraordinary group of trailblazers and bridge builders whose contributions would serve to advance not only their own communities but the interests of the entire United States.She is survived by her four children Lender Jones, Sumner Jones and daughter-in-law Marjorie, Garland Jones and daughter-law Kathleen and daughter Cathy Jones, a host of beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Click this Link to view the Program of Constance J. Jones