BERTHA JONES

JONES--Bertha K.

96, passed away on December 2, 2014 in New York City. She was born in Detroit, MI on November 25, 1918. Beloved wife of Justice Thomas R. Jones and mother of Margaret J. DeLaCour, who both predeceased her, and David R. Jones, Esq., who survives her along with five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Bertha was a social activist and progressive from the time she graduated from Brooklyn College in 1935. Meeting her future husband Thomas R. Jones in the anti- fascist youth leagues formed before World War II, they married in 1938 becoming one of the few interracial couples of their time. Together they help found numerous organizations including the Unity Democratic Club in Central Brooklyn, which led to the election of Thomas Jones as Assemblyman and ultimately the election of Shirley Chisholm. As a professional she worked as a social worker for the City of New York and then for many years as co-coordinator of adult education for Brooklyn College. In addition to her many philanthropic efforts, she served on the Board of the Citizens Committee for Children, and with her husband, created a non-for-profit childrens advocacy publication called The Children's Times. She was a world traveler and passionately devoted to her husband, children, her daughter-in-law Dr. Valerie King, son-in-law Willis S. DeLaCour Jr, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be sincerely missed by all who knew her. The family prefers, in lieu of flowers, that contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation in memory of Bertha K. Jones, either online at www.alzfdn.org/donation or by mail to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th floor, New York, NY 10001.