Ella B. Jones 87, of Brownwood, passed away on March 4, 2021.
Funeral services will be held Friday March 12, 2021 at 11 am at Victory Life Church located at 901 C.C. Woodson. Mrs. Jones will have a public viewing Thursday March 11, 2021 at 11 am – 7 pm at Greater Faith Community Church located at 417 Wesley.
Ella B. Jones’s family moved to Brown County in a horse drawn wagon in 1917. She was born in Brownwood, Texas on March 16, 1933 to John and Mary Elizabeth Diggs. She was the second youngest of 10 siblings: 8 sisters and 1 brother. Her parents died when she and two other sisters were very young. They were raised by an older sister, Julia Mae Johnson who was a good provider.
Ella B. attended R. F. Hardin High School with her sisters. She participated in various activities such as singing in the high school chorus, playing basketball and became Hardin High’s first queen. She enjoyed her days at Hardin and had fond memories of them. Of course this was where she met her childhood sweetheart, the late Albert Jones Jr. They later married and became parents of eight children: four girls and four boys. They had a solid appreciation for family life, church, education, and community service.
Ella B. was busy being a housewife and a mother while helping Albert to support the family financially. She found time to get her GED. Then later she enrolled at Howard Payne College and took additional classes at Sam Houston State University. While two of her daughters were attending college, Ella received her license vocational nursing certification. She would finish her shift at the hospital and go directly to various other domestic jobs.
Begin blessed with culinary and decorative skills, her passion for cooking transcends to all facets of her life. Ella B added still another vocation to her busy life. She became a hostess at the First Baptist Church and remained there for many years.
At one point in her life, the Joneses had four children attending college at the same time and Ella B held down five jobs. Although Albert was the head of the household and met his family obligations, Ella B was very aggressive and continued to work diligently to help to support her family. They finally decided that Ella B. should quit her hospital job and her various domestic jobs and pursue a career as a supervisor with the Texas Youth Commission at Brownwood State School where she retired after 25 years of service. This was truly a blessing for her and the commission because she loved children and the children loved her. Although she was compassionate and loving she was a firm disciplinarian.
She was truly a people person who was always giving and doing for others, whether it was for her family, her church, or her community. She was a member of Greater Faith Community Church.
Ella B. was a steadfast and a dedicated community volunteer worker and a member of the following civic organizations: Brownwood Regional Active Advantage, Volunteer Visiting Nurses Association, Texas African American Heritage Organization, Inc., Life Member Rufus F. Hardin Museum, Inc., and Former United Neighbors Involved to Improve Scholarship Funds. She was named Girl Scouts 2006 Women of Distinction. And named a Legend at Rufus F. Hardin Museum in 2005.
Ella B. truly lived her life ready and willing to serve God, her family and her community. She firmly believed we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ella B is preceded in death by both parents, husband Albert Jones Jr., 1 son; Gregory Leon Jones; 7 sisters, 1 brother.
She is survived by daughters; Mary Helen Jones Nelson (Edward Wayne) of Bay City, TX, Patricia Jones of Houston, TX, Wanda Jean Jones Rainey of Brownwood, TX, Rebecca Kay Jones Green of Lancaster, TX, Farris (Ducky) Rowe Maples of Brownwood, TX. Sons; Charles Ray Findley (Beatric) of Apple Valley, CA, Tony Edwin Jones (Sharies) of Brownwood, TX, Roderick B. Jones Sr. (Donna) of Brownwood, TX. 1 sister; Rutha Grant of Rio Vista,CA. 12 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic social distancing and mask will be required.
Services entrusted to Brownwood Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at brownwoodfuneralhome.net.