Thelma G. Jones

Thelma Geneva Jones was born on May 16, 1931, to Thelma and Emmit Smith in Wilmington,

Delaware. She blessed us with 93 years of a beautiful life well lived.

Thelma, affectionately known as “Tootsie”, received her education through the Wilmington public

school system and graduated from Howard High School class of 1949. She played on the

women’s basketball team. She married her high school sweetheart Bernard “Bus” Jones. From

their union, they raised six children: Marcia, Sandra, Leslie, Bernard Jr. “Chucky”, Michael and

Crystal, and one granddaughter Carmen.

Thelma was a wonderful full-time mother and worked part-time. She retired as a cook and

nutritionist at the Delaware Adolescent Program, Inc. (DAPI) where she was loved by the

children and her co-workers. She once told the story of how she had a full circle moment while

working for DAPI. She always wanted to go to college but couldn’t afford it. She was given the

opportunity to take classes at Del-Tech for DAPI. She said, “God answers prayers in His time.”

Thelma’s faith in the Lord was unmeasurable. When asked for advice, her first response was to

ask you if you talked to God, and then she told you to pray about it. She was a devoted

member of Mother African Union FCMP Church for almost 50 years. She was a member of the

Steward Board, the Elders Ministry, the Willing Workers, the Senior Choir, and participated in

many church activities. Her family church growing up was St. James Church in Wilmington.

Thelma loved her family. She and her sisters, Bernice and Sara and her mother Thelma were

inseparable. She also had a beloved cousin, Vivian who grew up with them, who is 94 and still

lives in Baltimore, Maryland. They had lots of family gatherings, family trips, and planned

reunions. A normal Saturday was gathering up all the cousins and spending the day at mom-

mom Thelma’s house where they ate good soul food, lots of cakes and pies, and played card

games such as Pinochle and Pokeno, while the kids had to play outside all day. She loved

spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her house at 918 E. 28 th Street is a staple of

the Jones family where she lived for 62 years and is still in the family. Her proudest moments

were talking about her grandchildren. She loved being mom-mom Tootsie. She loved to tell

people that she had 54 grandchildren and was a great-great-grandmother. Her grandchildren

loved to hear her stories and her funny one-line jokes that always caught them off guard.

Thelma also loved music. Her favorite music was “real” jazz music of the 40s/50s and 60s, and

spiritual hymns. Some of her favorite musicians were Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Etta

James, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Delaware’s own Lem Winchester. When she wanted

to hear something, she would say, “Play me a mean tune kid!” One of Crystal’s favorite

memories will be helping her shower while listening to her favorites as she told stories of

growing up as a young woman in her day. And how she and her sisters enjoyed life. She also

had an affinity for trees. She loved to take rides to look at “God’s beautiful work.”

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, Emmit and Thelma Smith, her sisters Sara

Emory and Bernice Lea, three daughters: Marcia Watts, Sandra Tackett, and Leslie Jones

Wilkerson, Bernard E. Jones, Sr, and grand-daughter LaShele Jones-Evans.

Thelma is survived by her sons Bernard Jones, Jr. and Michael Jones (Onna), daughter Crystal

Burton (Aurelio), granddaughter Carmen Jones, a host of other grandchildren, nieces,

nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Her humble, soft spoken, quiet spirit, and quick wit will forever be missed.