Lillie A. Jones

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, the Lord called home one of his "Sweet Angels," Deaconess Lillie Ann Jones, of 1338 Old Iron Road, Hopewell, Va. Deaconess Jones was the widow of John Edward Jones, formerly of Claremont, Va. She had two children to precede her in death, Betty Jean and Tommie.

With a Christian upbringing by her parents, the late Deacon Thomas Johnson and Mrs. Sadie Johnson, Deaconess Jones became a member of The Morning Star Baptist Church (Burrowsville, Va.) at an early age and was well loved by her church community. Before her declining health, she was a member of the Senior Choir, The Good News Club, the Pastor's Aid Club and was consecrated as a deaconess on July 1, 2001. She loved to attend Bible study each week where she credits her pastor, Dr. Robert L. Elliott Jr., with being an anointed leader and divine inspiration. Her presence was constant in Vacation Bible School each year.

Deaconess Jones authored three books, "A Message to The People of America," "A Poetic and Biblical Tribute to Birds" and "Wake Up Black Man & Black Woman," and had sent the fourth book to print. In addition to keeping busy with her large family and writings, she was an avid reader of the scriptures, an active poet and a songwriter. Most of all, the almost 84-year-old "sweet spirit" was a "Child of God" and devout in her beliefs. she demonstrated daily her love for her family, her church family and all of God's children, being a loving mother figure for her grandchildren who needed her special kind of love.

She leaves to cherish her memory, nine children: James Lester Dugger (Linda) of Newport News, Va., Lillie Mae Hall of Petersburg, Bernice Elizabeth Reaves (Robert) of Prince George, Frances Priscilla Garrett of Hopewell, John Edward "Gus" Jones Jr. (stephanie) of Oberlin, Ohio, Mary A. Harding (Tony) of Hopewell, Rose Marie Taylor (Kenneth) of Kathleen, Ga., Warren Keith Jones (Charlene) of Ft. Washington, Md., Gene Thomas Jones (Stephanie) of Arlington, Va.; and two granddaughters whom she raised, Ijuana Gholson and Fantasia Gholson, Newport News, Va.; one sister, Deaconess Ellen Jones of Prince George, Va.; one brother, Arthur Johnson of Chicago; 32 other grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends, including a devoted niece, Mrs. Ida Mae Hall of Prince George.

Deaconess Jones will be funeralized at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at the Morning Star Baptist Church with the pastor, Dr. Robert L. Elliott Jr., giving the eulogy. Interment will be in the church's burial grounds. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Turner-Bland Funeral Home, 1500 Arlington Road, Hopewell, VA 23860.