Remembering Big Mama

There are so many things that we could tell you about our mom that we are not sure where to start.  Well, let’s start with the beginning.  On Wednesday, September 27, 1922 our grandparents, Miry and Isa Jane Ulmer announced the birth of their baby girl, Annie Lee, our mom.  Being raised in the south and educated at Oak Park High School, mom grew up with great work habits, a love for family, and a strong connection to the Lord.

Mom and our dad, Otis Eugene Jones met while they both lived in Mississippi.  They had great times together. They, like many others during that time, decided to seek better job opportunities by moving ‘up north’ to Joliet, Illinois. After both relocated to Joliet they decided to continue on this journey through life as husband and wife and were married on Friday, January 10, 1947.  God blessed them to parent eight of us, not to mention our offspring. 

It was in Joliet that mom worked as a cook at St. Joseph’s Hospital.  Later she worked at Uniroyal Arsenal Plant making ammunition during The Vietnam War.  Following her tenure there mom worked at Shelby Craftco Card Company making greeting cards.  After retirement mom decided to be a foster grandparent at Project Head Start by volunteering and reading to the children there.  After she relocated to Texas in 1996 mom volunteered at The Jewish Community Center of Houston by sitting with residents.  Mom was so dedicated that she finally decided to retire at the tender young age of 95.  How impressive.   Her diligent volunteerism was brought to the attention of the President of the United States, Barack Obama.  As a result, President Obama presented her with the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Mom loved the Lord and served Him faithfully.  She believed in and taught us the power and importance of prayer.  She served faithfully at St. Mark’s CME Church in Joliet, Illinois until changing her membership to be with dad at Brown’s Chapel AME Church in Joliet.  At each church she sang in the choir.  People were blessed to hear her as she led Walk With Me Lord.  She remained a faithful member there from the 60’s until 1996 when she relocated to Texas to be closer to family.  Here in Texas she united with Calvary MB Church where she served with the WINGS Ministry, JOY Club, and was the Mother of the church.

Mom never met a stranger.  She loved her family and people in general.  We would wake up sometimes to find someone that needed a place to lay their head sleeping on the couch.  Mom would welcome them in, feed them and show them love.  And yes, mom could cook!  She was better than some five-star chefs.  People would often ask her to bake her famous German Chocolate Cake or one of her tasty pies.  She was known for her collards, mustards and turnip greens with fried green onions and eggs.  We are not going to mention how she could cook a mean pot of chitterlings.

Mom loved playing Bingo, reading the Word of God, watching soap operas, cheering for The Chicago Bulls, dressing hard with her beautiful hats and dresses, and socializing at family gatherings.  It brings us so much peace reflecting on the annual birthday and Mother’s Day celebrations with her family at church.  Such great times.  It was such a joy to spoil mom.  We had her so spoiled that she would pout until one of us or the grandchildren gave her what she wanted.  We loved her and she loved us.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 God rewarded her hard labor of 97 years by giving her rest.  Those who will often reflect on these and other precious memories include us, her children, Otis E. Jones, Jr. of San Jose, California, Fernando Addullah, Shirley Ann Ferguson, Orlando Eugene Jones, Fredrick Dean Jones, Patricia Ann Jones, and Mildred Lynette Evans all of Houston, Texas and her sister Kathy McKenzie of Houston, Texas, special friends and relatives Viola Davis, Clara Arrington and Velma Waddel, along with 23 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, 17 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

We can’t help but to remember those who transitioned before her including her husband, Otis Eugene Jones, her parents Miry and Isa Jane Ulmer, our sister, Debra Jones-Martin, and three of her grandsons Novell Woods, Muhammad Abdullah and Derrick Jones.   In That Great Gettin’ Up Morning Fair Thee Well, Fair Thee Well...

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