Mrs. Beatrice Virginia Jones

JONES, Mrs. Beatrice - Age 90, passed away Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Owosso Hospice House in Owosso, MI. Family hour 10 :00 AM Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Hwy., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM, Pastor Naylo Hopkins, officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 10:00 AM Thursday. Mrs. Jones will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12:00 PM-6:00 PM Wednesday, with family present from 4:00 PM-6 :00 PM to receive friends. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to The Alpha Esquire Endowment Fund care of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, 500 S. Saginaw St, Flint, MI 48502 or The Hospice House of Shiawassee County, 2005 Copas Road, Owosso, MI 48867. According to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, for everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, … A time to be born, I was born on July 28, 1933, in Pineland, South Carolina to Robert and Lillie Rose (Polite) Bryant, Sr., the youngest of three (3) children. I received my early education in Jasper County, SC, graduating from Robertville High School, in Robertville, SC. I always loved children, and thought I wanted to be a teacher. My family was even prepared to send me to Voorhees Junior College in Den-mark, SC. But I decided that wasn’t what I wanted to do, so with the help of one of my aunts, I hopped on a bus and headed to North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University located in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was there that I met and fell in love with a handsome young man named Clifton (aka “Cliff” or “Jones”) Jones. On February 9, 1956, we were married in Toledo, and relocated further north to Flint, MI. … A time to plant and a time to harvest that which is planted, Upon arriving in Flint, we took up residence in a boarding home operat-ed by Thomas and Lucy Wheeler. They were instrumental in helping us get accli-mated to the city and introducing us to other young newlywed couples who had also relocated here. In April, 1956, we purchased our first home on a quaint little street named Willard Court. Two months later, I would meet my new neighbor, Mrs. Estella Gould, who had the prettiest little baby boy named Darnell. It was no secret, I LOVED BABIES! So, everyday, I would go over and watch her un-pack her belongings while I held little Darnell in my arms. Spending time with Estella and her baby was special, because it would soon develop into our best friendship rooted in genuine love. The Wheelers also introduced us to friends who attended Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle, and Cliff and I visited one Sunday and in the fall of 1957, we joined Metropolitan. Along with our spiritual growth, our circle of friends in-creased tremendously, and we remained active in Metropolitan for 20 years. Dur-ing that time, our family blossomed from 2 to 5, with the addition of 3 children of our own. Our community and support system grew even larger, and our chil-dren were taught the importance of faith and family. By 1977, Cliff and I had an opportunity to charter Christ the Liberator Presbyterian Church, under the leader-ship of Rev. John Quick. We did, where I sang in the choir and Cliff actively served on the Session of the Church and other committees. I remained at Christ the Liberator for many years, peacefully nestled on the right hand side of the sanctuary. My Christ the Liberator family provided me comfort and strength, in 2001, after the loss of my beloved husband, Cliff. On my 75th birthday, I joined Bethel United Methodist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton where I remained a faithful member, attend-ing Sunday School and was an active member of the senior citizens ministries. I loved playing cards, especially Bid Whist, attending the Christmas parties and other outings with my family in Christ. I have always said I lived a blessed life. Put all 3 children through college, and attended several graduations for my granddaughters, the youngest who is an Aggie. Retired from my Post Office job and stayed active with cooking, canning and freezing foods, baking, and garden-ing. In 2009, my yard was selected and featured as a “‘MSU Genesee County Masters Gardeners” Tour Site. I’ve experienced victories, defeats, love and loss with grace and dignity. God has ordered my steps and my legacy will live on. For that, I have no regrets. … A time to mourn and a time to dance On June 8, 2024, I was reunited with my sister, Bernice Fisher; parents, Robert and Lillie R. Bryant; husband, Clifton; brother, Robert Bryant, Jr.; several brothers and sisters-in-laws, through my eternal rest with the Father in Heaven, for “to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Father.” Continuing my legacy, I leave to cherish my memory; 3 children, Adrian (Phyllis) Jones of Flint, MI, Derrick Jones of Grand Blanc, MI and Ericka Jones of Shelby Township, MI; 2 grandchildren, Alyse (Reginald) Montgomery of Washington, DC and Lauren Jones of Grand Blanc, MI; 2 great-grandchildren, Greyson and Logan Montgomery of Washington, DC,; 1 sister-in-law, Leora Williams of Baltimore, MD; several nieces, several cousins, several great nieces and nephews, college roommates, Mrs. Bernice Perry of Raleigh, NC and Ms. Sadie Boone of New York, New York.; close friends, Mrs. Estella Gould, Mrs. Betty Massey and Mrs. Ruth Thrash; and several coworkers and friends. I have nurtured and grown hundreds of flowers in my lifetime so, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either of these two organiza-tions: The Alpha Esquire Endowment Fund,℅ The Community Foundation of Greater Flint, 500 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502, or the Hospice House of Shiawassee County, 2005 Copas Road, Owosso, MI 48867. Our young people need to pursue post-secondary education to achieve their dreams and it’s good to know that quality volunteer organizations like the Hospice House will be there when we need them.

Mrs. Beatrice Virginia Jones

July 25, 1933 - June 8, 2024