Deaconess Beatrice "Bea" Jones

Obituary For Deaconess Beatrice "Bea" Jones

In Loving Memory of DEACONESS BEATRICE "BEA" JONES

VIEWING: Sunday, August 2, 2020 | Time: 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM

GRAVESIDE SERVICE: Monday, August 3, 2020 | Time: 10:00 AM | Greater Hayes Grove Baptist Church, 1851 Union Level Road, South Hill, VA 23970

Rev. Tyreece Barnes, Officiating

On July 28, 2020 without farewell, Beatrice Alexander Jones transitioned home to dwell in the beautiful city called Heaven at the age of 105.

Beatrice “Bea” was born on August 15, 1914 in Union Level, Mecklenburg County, Virginia to the late James and Hattie Ogburn Alexander. She was the second of eight children, four brothers and three sisters. At the age of 15 Beatrice accepted added responsibilities within the household because of the untimely death of her mother.

Beatrice received her formal education in the Mecklenburg County Virginia school system. She accepted the Lord at an early age and was baptized at Diamond Grove R.Z.U.A. Church in Union Level, Virginia. She later joined Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY under the leadership of Dr. Gardner Taylor and remained a faithful member for well over 50 years.

On February 14, 1938 Beatrice married Robert E. L. Jones in Brooklyn, New York. This unity bore three children; James Junius Jones (1938-2000), Mary Jane Jones Shanck (1940) and Almana Jones Wilson (1946-2019).

In 1942, her uncle, The Reverend John T. Ogburn started the family reunion with fifty members and she was there at the beginning. The family organization is called “The House of Ogburn”. Since that time, we have grown to over 400 members. Beatrice was an active and faithful member. Our family motto is “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together”.

Beatrice was employed as a seamstress and a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. After retiring in 1977 Bea and Robert moved back to their beloved South Hill, Virginia. In 2004 her husband of 66 years departed for glory and two years later Beatrice returned to New York.

Once back in Virginia, Beatrice join The Greater Hayes Grove Baptist Church and was installed as a church Deaconess.

She was a committed member of the church and she loved the Lord.

Beatrice is survived by her daughter Mary Jane Shanck and son-in-law John Shanck, Jr. (Laurelton, NY), her sister Louise Alexander Carvalho and brother-in-law Simon (Bobby) Carvalho (Brooklyn, NY), as well as 6 grandchildren; Christopher M. Jones and wife Christine (New Castle, DE), Gregory S. Shanck (Bronx, NY), Michael A. Jones and wife Andrea (Richmond, VA), Deatrice R. S. Lowe (East Stroudsburg, PA), Rachelle E. Wilson Swanson and husband Nathan Swanson, Robyn D. Wilson (Baltimore, MD).

Beatrice was blessed with 10 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.