Irene Elizabeth Riles-Jordan

Irene Elizabeth Brown Riles-Jordan was born in Montross, Virginia to the late Allen Brown and Pearl McKinney-Brown on November 10, 1933. Her father passed away when she was very young and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Samuel Parker. Irene attended elementary school and high school in Montross, VA. She was a member of the high school choir and girls softball team. She later attended Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA where she studied music for a few years. She was a musician for the New Zion Baptist Church Choir. She was baptized and became a member of the Galilee Baptist Church (Montross, VA) where she sang on the choir. While she was in college, Irene consulted with one of her teachers who was from New Haven, CT, about summer jobs and discovered that there were many opportunities available there. She decided to visit New Haven to seek employment. She got a job, went to work immediately, and decided to relocate there. This is where she met and married the late Ulysses Riles. Irene was employed at the VA Hospital as a Nursing Assistant for many years. She was secretary to two attorneys, a personal secretary to a Psychiatrist at CMC, and Administrative Assistant to the Director, State of Conn. Dept. of Social Services, retiring after many years of service. Irene became a member of Trinity Temple COGIC in 1976. She loved to praise God for He has done great things for her. In the earlier years, she was a member of the choir and was secretary to the following: The Choir, Women's Dept., Finance Committee, Pastor's Aide, Vice-President, Treasure of Home and Foreign Missions, and was Assistant Sunday School Teacher for the Children's Class. Prior to her passing, she served as Vice-President of the Mother's Board, and was one of the Prayer Warriors. She was also a member of the Helping Hand Club and NAACP. Irene was married Curtis O. Jordan for 22 years before the Lord called him home. He was the love of her life. He was a man who loved her and loved to worship and praise God. They loved to travel and doing things together. She loved people. It didn't matter who they were, she believed that in God's eyes we are all the same--GOD'S CREATION. She did so very much to help those in need but never spoke about it. That's why God so richly blessed her. She loved to travel by land, air and sea. She has traveled throughout the USA, Canada, Caribbean and Europe. Cruising was what she loved best. SHE WAS ALWAYS READY TO GO! Irene leaves to mourn, one daughter, Lagreta Riles; four grandchildren, Aleta Kerr (David), Nakashia Riles, Shanna Solomon, and John Solomon, Jr.; nine great-grandchildren, Tykwell, Davian, Davion, David, Tanasia, Malik, Jeremiah, Davire, and Alexis; six nieces, Dianne Thompson, Mary K. Wormley (Clinton), Mary Ellen Harrison (Phillip), RoZeta Parker, Doris Toliver, and Joyce Brown; six nephews, Lemuel Parker, Wavery Veney, Ciballero Brown (Menia), Sylvester Brown, and David Brown (Adrian); stepdaughter, Elizabeth Portee; stepson, Derrick Jordan; two step grandchildren, Jordan and Lia Portee; and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by, husbands, Ulysses Riles and Curtis Jordan; mother, Pearl Brown-Parker; father, Allen Brown; stepfather, Samuel Parker; five sisters, Florence, Elsie, Viola, Annie and Dorothy; and six brothers, Conrad, Thomas, Stanley, Mervin, Lyle and Warren. She asked that a special thank you be sent to her nieces, Yvonne Jones (deceased) and Dianne Thompson; and great-nieces, Miriam Yvette Atkins, Sandra Malone, and Carolyn Johnson; and great-nephew, Frank Albert Johnson. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Irene Elizabeth Riles-Jordan, please visit our floral store.