Dorothy Lolita

Jones

Dorothy L. Jones, the second of eight children and daughter to Eduardo and Vivian Woods was born on July 14th, 1929 in Harlem where she was raised along with her four sisters and three brothers. She was educated in the New York City Parochial and Public school system attending St. Charles Elementary School and Wadleigh High School. Home life for Dorothy was mass every Sunday with the family at St. Charles. She was the official sous chef, helping her father prepare family meals, and she was the surrogate mother to her youngest siblings. The nuns would occasionally call Dorothy to the school office for assistance in calming a crisis.

Growing into adulthood, the Friday night place to go was "The Renny" (aka The Renaissance Ballroom) where she would dance to the popular music of the day performed by the local bands playing there at the time…the core of the Harlem Renaissance was a time the family thrived!

Dorothy and the Woods family were Pinochle sharks and traveled with a carousel of chips and two decks of Pinochle cards wherever and whenever they could. They relished in the friendly family competition and a bit of trash talk at the card table. Dorothy and the rest of the Woods family were a tight-knit family, and their children inherited that quality. As a young woman, Dorothy worked in the garment district during the summer months - ironing blouses and dresses in the NYC sweat shops. Her post-secondary education continued at Hunter College - where she received a degree in Sociology. Professionally, Dorothy worked as a claims representative for the Social Security Administration on Governor's Island. Dorothy married her husband Percellus "Sonny" Jones, Jr. on September 16th, 1956. Together, they worked as "Cottage Parents" at Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, New York before starting their own family. They raised their four sons, Kevin, Larry, Russell, and Bradley, in Teaneck, New Jersey. She finished her professional career in the Hackensack, NJ Social Security office.

Dorothy volunteered as a reading tutor to students at St. Charles Elementary School and served on the Parish council as well. Always exploring philanthropic initiatives, Dorothy assisted in establishing the partnership with St. Charles and the John Paul II residence. Family vacations included road trips in which they all piled into the family car (a Blue 1967 Chevy Bel Air) and drove to Montreal, Canada (with their new German Shepard, Jet, in tow) to visit her brother Bobby and his family. They traveled to other cities within the US that included Cape Cod, Maine, Newport News, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, and many others. Along with her husband, she traveled internationally to many of the Caribbean Islands such as Jamaica, Barbados, The Bahamas, St. Maarten, Aruba and Puerto Rico just to name a few. They also extended their travels to European cities such as London and Paris. A group trip to Rome, Italy, where they visited Vatican City, was a real highlight.

Dorothy remained married to her husband Percellus Jones, Jr. until his passing on August 21st, 2011. They were married for fifty-five years. On Mother's Day 2025, all four sons, her sister Vivian, and other family members visited Dorothy at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey. She gathered enough strength to say a few words and make eye contact with everyone. On May 13th, 2025, Dorothy passed away in her sleep at 5:01 am. Dorothy remained a devoted and supportive parishioner of St. Charles until her passing.

She is preceded in death by her husband Percellus Jones, Jr., her parents Vivian and Eduardo Woods, Aunt Cassie Dowell, sisters Rita Madero and Gloria Fruge, brother Dr. Edward A. Woods, daughter-in-law JoAnn Duke Jones, sisters-in-law Lynn Woods, Henrietta Smalls, Rosalee Catherine Richards, nephew Gregory Richards, and niece Melaine Francis.

She is survived by her sons Kevin (Jala), Lawrence (Kim) Russell (Claire), Bradley (Rosita), Goddaughter Sharon (Thomas), grandchildren Kevin Amir, Dara, Molly, Brian, Oliver and Camille, sisters Vivian Francis and Sylvia Hollar, brothers Robert (Audrey) and Larry Woods, nieces and nephews Debra, Keith, Michael, Steven, Dana, Courtney, Edward, Steven, Cheryl, Michelle, Caryn, Neville, Joseph, Gerald, Michele, Kenneth, Daryl, Eldridge, Mark, Allyson, and Byron.

Dorothy was covered with love, care, and affection in her final days. Special acknowledgments to Marilyn Hatcher Daniels, Yomaly Zapata, and the Beckford family. May Dorothy's soul and memory rest in eternal peace.