Mary Jo

Jones

Celebrating The Life of Mary Jo Jones

Mary Jo Jones was born in Birmingham, AL on Mother's Day, Sunday May 10, 1942. She was the only child born to Curtis Berry and Eula Mae Jarrett. Mary Jo was reared by her loving and doting grandmother, Bertha Smith, while her mother was working in Phildelphia with cousins Olivia and Lillian. Eula returned to Alabama and married M.D. Jarrett. Mary Jo soon became a big sister to Lois Jean, Bruce and Kelly.                             The Jarretts lived in Powhatan, AL and then later moved to the Praco area where Mary Jo attended Praco High School. The Jarretts were members of the M.t. Zion A.M.E Church, Powhatan, AL and then later of  Coppins Chapel A.M.E. Church . Mary Jo accepted Jesus Christ early in life. She loved the fellowship, music and pageantry that the services entailed.

Mary Jo left Birmingham to attend college in St Louis, MO. While living with her Uncle Alfonzo Smith, Mary Jo went north to Teaneck, NJ on a promise of employment. It was while living and working in Teaneck that she met a young man on a blind date, Melvin P. Jones of Freeman (Brunswick County), VA.

Mary Jo and Melvin were married June 27, 1964. In 1965, they welcomed Melvin P. Jones, Jr and in 1967, Christie M. Jones was born. The young family lived in Englewood, NJ. In 1970, Melvin built and completed the home in which the family would live the next fifty plus years.

Mary Jo joined Shiloh A.M.E Zion Church. She worked tirelessly on many of the church's committees, but most importantly, she worked on the Building Fund, that enabled the church to march into their new building. She continued to serve as a repeat Women's Day Co-Chair, sang in the choir and hosted countless teas, luncheons and dinners.

Mary Jo was truly her husband's partner. She worked as his secretary and bookkeeper as he built up his business, J & J Masons. It was a role she combined with all the duties of supervising two busy children and the running of a comfortable home. She enjoyed her life. She was famous for her potato salad. She enjoyed road trips with her husband especially to Atlantic City.

Alzheimer's and dementia claimed Mary Jo's life on October 29, 2023.  It is said that person who will be cured of dementia is already born, God make it so, in order that no other family member has to suffer the pain of this horrible disease. Mary Jo is preceded in death by her loving husband, Melvin P. Jones, Sr.; son, Melvin P. Jones, Jr.; parents, M.D. Jarrett, Eula Mae Jarrett and Curtis Berry. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Christie M. Jones  of Teaneck, NJ; step-daughter, Wanda M. Laird (Jerry) of Monroe, NJ;, sisters, Lois Brown   nee Jarrett of Gary, Indiana, Kelly Terrell nee Jarrett (Hank) of Adamsville, AL, and a brother, Bruce Jarrett of Birmingham, AL:  sisters-in-law  Lorraine Charles Jones of Richmond, VA and Portia Hooper  Jones of Glen Allen, VA; brothers-in-law Earl Jones (Roberta) of Richmond, VA,  Marvin Jones, Sr. (Justine) and Roy Jones, both of  Mechanicsville, VA; Milton Jones (Barbara) of Richmond, VA:  two granddaughters, Shaprie Townes of Garfield, NJ and Shaliece Laird, Paterson, NJ; a great-granddaughters, Jayla Townes; four great -grand sons, Nakie Graham, Crazel Graham, Jayden Henderson and Kashmere Laird.

In Appreciation

The family of Mary Jo Jones, wishes to acknowledge the many acts of kindness and support shown during her time of illness.  We love you for every call you made, every moment of facetime and every visit. Thank you for coming over to lift our spirits. Thank you for praying with us and for keeping us in your prayers.

May God bless and keep each of you in His loving care.

THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME

It broke our hearts to lose you, but you did not go alone.

A part of us went with you, the day God called you home.

Everyday we'll miss you and often times we'll cry.

If love could have saved you, you would have never had to die.

To some you may be forgotten, to some just a part of the past.

But for us who loved and lost you, your memories will forever last.

The Family

In My Heart

We thought of you today.

But that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday.

And days before that too.

We think of you in silence.

We often speak your name.

Now all we have are memories.

And your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake

With which we'll never part.

God has you in his keeping.

We have you in our heart.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5: 4

Interment

George Washington Memorial Park

234 Paramus Road

Paramus, New Jersey