Waunita Mae "Nita" Jones

Waunita Mae Jones, age 93, of Henderson, KY, passed away on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Walnut Creek Memory Care in Evansville, IN. Waunita "Nita" Mae Briggs Jones was born on July 31, 1932, in Chariton, Iowa, to Rex Pearl and Mary Zimmerman Briggs. She was born during the Depression Era. In fact, on April 11, 1937, her family was unknowingly featured as an example of poverty in the Des Moines Register. According to the front-page news article Nita (then age 4) and her six brothers and sisters lived in a one-room cabin with their parents. During her childhood Nita came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her commitment to the principles of Christianity was strong. After high school, Nita followed her older brothers and sisters to Texas where they had migrated for jobs during the Texas Oil Boom. However, Nita went to Texas for the purpose of attending Southwest Bible College in Waxahachie, TX. During her freshman year of college and during a Sunday school class, Nita winked at an attractive younger Arkansas farm boy (Paul) who was also attending Southwest Bible College. A year later, they were married, and their union produced three children: Greg Jones, Cindy Lester, and Eddie Jones. After a brief stint on the Arkansas family farm, the couple moved to Springfield, Missouri to attend Central Bible College. Paul began working at the Springfield Power Company when he heard new power called Big Rivers Electric Company was hiring for jobs in western Kentucky. In 1965, Paul and Nita with 3 young children moved to Robards, Kentucky where Paul worked for the new power plant built in Sebree, Kentucky. They immediately involved themselves with local Assembly of God churches as lay ministers. Paul eventually became the plant superintendent for the Sebree based power plant. However, during their late thirties (1971), the couple decided to change their lives and go into full time ministry at the Hartford Assembly of God Church. Eventually Paul went back to work for Big Rivers at their Hancock County power plant, but the couple remained the full-time ministers for the small but growing church. In the Eighties, the couple returned to Robards, Kentucky where Paul worked again at the power plants in Sebree, Kentucky. In addition, the couple involved themselves in the Henderson First Assembly of God with Paul serving as Associate Pastor and Nita leading the children's church ministry. Nita was a dedicated minister's wife, mother, homemaker, children's ministry volunteer, missionary, and opened her home to care for those in need, including many children that she took in as her own. Nita loved gardening and flowers as well as her poodles. Nita loved being a mother and adored her role as grandmother. Nita peacefully met her Savior at the age of ninety three (93) on the morning of October 3, 2025. Nita Jones was preceded in death by her husband Paul; her parents; her brothers Ernest, Rex and Gene; her sisters Louise, Ruth and Yvonne along with her very best friends Jim and Joan Biram. She is survived by sister Colene; her children Greg Jones (Tammy Roberts), Cindy Jones Lester (Don Lester) and Eddie Jones (Jenny Hines); grandchildren Zachary (Gina; Emery and Ayla) Jones, Hannah (Logan) Gilland, Amber Nicole Jones, Allison Jones, and Gabriel Hines. Visitation for Nita Jones's family will be held at the funeral home this Sunday, from 2:00 p.m. until service time. A celebration of Nita's life will be held at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Benton-Glunt & Tapp Funeral Home in Henderson, KY. A private graveside service will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Henderson, KY. Donations in honor of Nita's life and legacy can be made to Speed the Light Assemblies of God Ministry: 2208 US Highway 60 E Henderson, KY 42420. Arrangements entrusted to Benton-Glunt & Tapp Funeral Home, A Life Celebration® Home. Please visit www.bentongluntandtappfuneralhome.com to share memories and words of comfort with Waunita's family.