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Jones 2010, she compiled a history of the

church, entitled: “Precious Memories”
printed and published by B&D Graphic Theola Jones’ memberships
FROM PAGE 1 Design+ Pam.
In 1995, a special request was made by Benefactor and Tree of Life Committee Inkster Head Start-Community Rep.
barrier at Wayne County General Inkster Mayor Hilliard L. Hampton, Jr. to Junior Choir Inkster Democratic Club
Hospital, also known as Eloise. Mrs. the editor of the Inkster Ledger Star to Junior Usher Board Inkster RSVP
Jones worked as a hospital attendant, a appoint Theola and the late educator, Junior Missionary Group Inkster Pioneers
licensed attendant nurse II and a ward Maude Reid and Karen Williams as spe- Cathedral Choir Inkster Missionary Group
supervisor for 25 years in the psychiatric cial writers for a new section. “Inkster Inspirational Choir Inkster Festival Commission
division of the hospital. Good News”. Action Committee Inkster Commission On Aging
In the late 1970s, the Wayne County Mrs. Jones was a volunteer tutor with Steward Board Emeritus Inkster Advisory Board
Intermediate School District and the the Inkster Literacy Council. She was a Pastor's Steward Inkster 50th Anniversary Committee
County of Wayne formed a partnership to member of the Detroit Black Writers
introduce high school students to the Guild and she participated in a poetry Blood Donor's Club Because Inkster Cares
world of work. Mrs. Jones was selected to reading event in 1994 at Wayne State Courtesy Club Inkster Citizens Who Care
train and supervise the students in the fil- University Hilberry Theatre. She Public Relations Chair Multi-Cultural Society Madonna University
ing division of the billing department. received a heart-warming reception for Finance Committee Chair Detroit Black Writer's Guild
Mrs. Jones retired in 1981 after 33 the reading of her poem, “Images” that Organizer Senior Citizen's Circle YWCA Board of Directors
years of service. depicted the life of slaves on southern 2nd Generation Lifetime Member Regional Advisory Board-Wayne County
Her deep commitment to fair and plantations. The poem was published in Charter Member Mother's Club Flora & Booker Dozier Scholarship Fund
equal treatment prompted her to serve in the Detroit Black Writers Guild Mother of the Year Club Mayor Hilliard L. Hampton Jr. Youth Foundation
several positions for Local 25 Council 25 Anthology. NAACP YOUTH GROUP Wayne Metropolitan Community Service Agency
AFSCME where she was an active mem- She was a devoted member of Smith Inkster Literacy Council (Tutor) Out-Wayne County Head Start
ber. For many years she served as the Chapel A.M.E. Church which she joined Inkster Charter Commission Inkster Summerfest Program-Community Rep.
chief grievance writer on behalf of union at the age of 7. Committee Top Ladies of Distinction, Michigan Metro Chapter
members that resulted in the reversal of She served on the Steward Board
unfair practices. In addition, she served under the pastorate of five pastors and Inkster Friends of the Library Khamalaw White Scholarship Fund
as Building Steward, Special Conference retired as Steward Emeritus after 40 Inkster Committee for Literacy (Tutor) Charmettes Social Club
Member, Good and Welfare Committee years of service. She chaired the finance Inkster Election Board Fred Hart Genealogical Society
and Nursing Office Liaison. During her committee and she authored the very Inkster Goodfellows Wayne County Retirees Club
employment, a group of employees first Finance Committee Training Inkster Construction Board of Appeals Local 38 AFSCME
joined together to form a committee Manual of Smith Chapel.
named “Just Friends.” Mrs. Jones served At the request of the Rev. Melvin D. Among those left behind to honor her B. (Maggie); brothers-in-law, Weaver
as the secretary and the co-coordinator Reed she coordinated the activities of the memory are her sons, Aaron III and Jones (Shirley) and Robert Jones
until the group was disbanded due to the Senior Citizens Circle for 23 years. It was Dennis (Regina); her daughter, Rita (Ceneilla); sisters-in-law, Marian Allen,
deaths of many members. the first group for senior citizens in the (Lloyd Edsel);; grandchildren, Lloyd III, Esther Brown, Sharon Austin (Ulysses);
Following her retirement at the age of history of the local church as well as in Tamara (Michael Sr.), Tiffany, Arica and many nieces, nephews and cousins along
55, Mrs. Jones decided to fulfill a life- the Fourth Episcopal District. The organ- Stephanie; great-grandchildren: Micah, with special family friends, Sonya,
long dream to attend college. She ization was active visiting the sick and Michael Jr., Mackenzie, Jaden, Octavia, Deloris and Chris and a host of beloved
enrolled on a part-time basis in the shut-in and hosting celebratory occasions Leasia, and Lloyd IV; her brother, Willie friends.
Gerontology Program at Madonna for seniors throughout the metropolitan
University and earned a 30-Hour area.
Certificate in Gerontology, an associate Her pastor submitted her name to be
degree in Gerontology; a special certifi- included in the first Selected Registry of
cate in Activity Therapy for the Elderly, the African Methodist Episcopal pub-
and a Bachelor of Science Degree in lished by the A.M.E. Church.
Gerontology with a minor degree in Mrs. Smith was active with a long list
Journalism and Public Relations. She of groups, committees, choirs clubs and
graduated with high honors in 1990, after boards.at the church.
having earned a 3.8 GPA. She was induct- For several years she chaired the
ed into the Kappa Gamma Pi Sorority, a Focus Hope Food Program, the General
prestigious Catholic scholastic group. In Motors Food Program, Wayne County
1989 she was presented the St. Catherine Food Program as well as the Federal
Medal by the faculty of Madonna FEMA Food Program. With the help of
University- the sole winner of the distin- church volunteers food was distributed to
guished scholastic honor. An avid writer, the elderly and the low-income residents
she completed writing courses at of the city. She championed the cause of
Schoolcraft College and the University of those less fortunate all of her adult life.
Michigan Dearborn campus. For more than seven decades, Mrs.
During more than seven decades, Mrs. Jones was an integral part of many civic
Jones responded to requests for poems, and community groups. In 1987,
tributes, helped write obituaries, (in some Councilman Ernest Hendricks submitted
cases printing them at no cost whenever her name to represent the City of Inkster
needed), resolutions, letters of recom- as one of the 150 First Lady of Michigan
mendations, and proof-reading materials honorees at a ceremony in Lansing
for college bound students. In 1997 the where she received a proclamation from.
Cathedral Choir of Smith Chapel A.M.E. Paula Blanchard, the wife of then Gov.
Church presented a play “The James Blanchard.
Womanless Wedding” written and direct- Among her many honors and acco-
ed by Mrs. Jones. In 2009 for the 85th lades were: Key to the City of Inkster and
Church Anniversary, she wrote and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019
directed a skit entitled: “Appointed”. In presented by Mayor Byron Nolen.
Senior meals

being served

Michigan recently received
additional federal funding to
help provide meals to older
adults as the state responds to
the COVID-19 pandemic. These
programs enable Michigan resi-
dents 60 years and older to
obtain meals through home
delivery and pick-up services.
The need for these services
has increased as measures to
slow transmission of COVID-19
have left many family care-
givers unable to assist older
loved ones. To abide by physi-
cal distancing of at least 6 feet,
meal sites have also been tem-
porarily closed, including the
noon-time meal provided at
Allen Terrace, the city-owned
and operated senior resident
community in Northville.
Residents registered for the
congregate program have been
receiving food delivery that
covers multiple meals during
the week, through the program
managed by Wayne County and
a local Area Agency on Aging.
Seniors who need extra sup-
port at this time can now sign
up for assistance, including
meal delivery, delivery of non-
perishable food items, and
daily wellness-check calls,
through the MDHHS coron-
avirus website.
Northville Senior Services,
part of the Northville Parks and
Recreation Dept., also offers
wellness checks conducted by
local volunteers. To learn more,
contact Joyce Drever at (248)
305-2851 between 9 a.m. and 1
p.m., Monday through Friday or
email her at jdrever@
twp.northville.mi.us.