Stella R Jones, a faithful servant of God, escaped this world to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday morning, September 24, 2018.  She was born in Madisonville, Kentucky on December 6, 1925.  She was the second of five children born to the late Henry and Elizabeth Noel.

Stella graduated from high school in Madisonville and migrated to Akron, Ohio along with her family where she met and married Doston B. Jones, Sr., December 3, 1946. He was the first cousin of Theodore Mobley whom her sister, Mary Louise, had married a year earlier.

Stella was a devout Christian, being a member and singing in the choir of Mount Olive Baptist Church for over 30 years.  She also was a faithful Sunday school teacher for 30 years.  Stella later was a member of The House of The Lord and also sang in the choir until rheumatoid arthritis and numerous joint operations caused her to resign.  She and her husband Doston opened their home to Bible study every Saturday afternoon, facilitated by their son Stephen for many years.

Stella was an accomplished seamstress sewing all of her two daughters’ clothing all through their high school years, even sewing suits for her two sons.  She also made her own clothing, modeling them for several years at the Ed Davis center.  She and her sister Mary Louise loved comparing their creations for she was a seamstress as well as their mother Elizabeth had taught them.  She loved to dress for Church and had to have a hat and gloves along with the appropriate shoes for each outfit or she felt she wasn’t properly dressed.  Even during the week, she wouldn’t dare go out without a hat and more than casually dressed.  She loved cooking meals for her family making sure everyone had a good hot breakfast before starting their day.  She also prepared special desserts every day for the evenings after dinner.  She was the matriarch of the family and all holidays were celebrated at her home because no one wanted to go elsewhere.  Stella also loved gardening and when she could no longer do it commandeered her husband advising him where to put her plants.  She was affectionately known as the ‘Black Tornado’ by her children as they were growing up because everything had to have its place and be spotlessly clean, even her furnace.  Nothing could be out of place or it was gone.  Many things such as old 45 records were lost to her children because of this policy.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Elizabeth Noel, sisters Mary Louise Mobley and Vera Parker, daughter Gail Fitzgerald and sons Keith and Stephen Jones.

Stella’s pride and joy was her family.  She would do anything to help them in time of need.  She will be greatly missed by her children Sharon Greene, Doston B. (Lisa) Jones, Jr.; grandchildren Anthony (Monica) Frederick, April Greene, Phillip Greene, Glen Parker Jr, Doston B (Shante) Jones, III, Geeya (Ornette) Gibson, Gyasi Jones, Jasmine Jones, Alaqua Jones, Kayla Fitzgerald, Angelique Jones and 23 great-grandchildren including Arrik Brown, who was very special to her.  She also leaves to mourn her loving siblings, James Noel, sister Sandra Long; sister-in-law, Mittie Walker, Alexandria Jones and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.