Vena Ilene Davis Jordan

1929 - 2018

Vena Ilene Davis Jordan

Detroit - Born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on November 29, 1929. Ilene attended Dougal Avenue and Patterson Collegiate schools in Windsor. On September 18, 1948 she was married to James W. Jordan of Greenville, Mississippi at the First Baptist Church of Windsor, Ontario; the same church at which she was baptized as a young girl. Ilene and James were blessed with five children, and she became a naturalized American citizen.

Ilene was the family historian and curated thousands of photographs, articles, legal documents and memorabilia stretching back generations. This project was most precious to her and she delighted in sharing her collections with others. For her entire life, one of Ilene's greatest loves was music. As one of her hobbies in recent years she amassed a personal song list of over 2,000 songs. She loved to sing, and passed her love of music on to her children. Ilene was the most amazing person. She was an accomplished gardener whose beautiful gardens were admired by all her neighbors and friends. She had a remarkable ability to tell stories about her life and experiences that made her listeners feel they were right there. Among them were the summers she spent on her grandparents' farm in Chatham, Ontario. Her stories about playing in the barn, feeding the chickens, picking fresh vegetables from the kitchen garden for dinner, and going into town to the ice cream parlor enchanted her children. The home she made for her family was always filled with the aromas of her outstanding baking and cooking. Ilene found great joy in her activities as a Deaconess in Second Baptist Church. She was an accomplished fundraiser for Women's Day, and her favorite special project was to organize day trips for the church community and friends. Her husband affectionately nicknamed her "The Human Magnet," because people gravitated to her warmth and genuineness. But the most immediate beneficiaries of her caring and generous spirit were her family; each member made special by her devotion. And for over fifty years Ilene, along with her husband, cared for their profoundly disabled daughter. The extraordinary level of personal care, patience and love they bestowed on their special child, without complaint, served as an example for all who were fortunate to witness it.

She is survived by her loving husband of sixty-nine years, James W. Jordan, Sr.; her children, James W. Jordan, Jr., Dr. Margaret Jordan, Herb (Margaret Wu) Jordan, Bruce (Batrice) Jordan and Marsha Jordan and her adoring grandchildren & great grandchildren.

Date of Funeral: Monday, January 22, 2018. Family Hour: 10:00 AM. Time of Funeral: 11:00 AM. Place of Funeral: Second Baptist Church of Detroit, 441 Monroe Avenue. Detroit, MI 48226. Flowers may be sent to: James Cole Funeral Home 16100 Schaefer Highway Detroit, MI 48235. Viewing: Sunday, January 21, 2018, 12:00-5:00 PM. James Cole Funeral Home.