On Sunday morning, at 1:20 a.m., Nov. 15, 2015, Mother Gladys Mae Bartlett Jones Stone was called to eternal rest and to be with her Lord and Savior. She was 94.
Gladys Mae Bartlett Jones Stone was born on Aug. 12, 1921, in York County, daughter of the late Deacon John W. Bartlett and Mary Hattie Ashlock Bartlett.
From this union, Gladys was the first of six children, consisting of two brothers and three sisters. After 12 years of marriage, her aunt, Mary M. Jones, her father’s sister and respected mid-wife in Williamsburg, brought her into this world and introduced her to her parents. They were so happy to have Gladys as their first baby and to be one of the 1,000 delivered by her Aunt Mary.
As she recalled, after her five more came running, John Milford Jr. (“Bubba”), Zennie Lee, Louise Gertrude, Oledo (OD) Catherine and Earl Alfred. Four of the six and her beloved stepbrother, Deacon Junius Bartlett, were called home, leaving Louise and Gladys until her recent death.
Gladys confessed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 9, joining her family church, Zion Baptist Church, where her father, Deacon John W. Bartlett, was one of the founding members.
As a committed and longterm member of Zion, Gladys served in many roles. She was a Sunday school teacher, president and treasurer of the choir, president and secretary of the Missionary Society, secretary of the Lilly of the Valley Club, secretary and treasurer of the Baptist Young People’s Union, church clerk and financial secretary.
For her years of quiet and dignified dedication, she has been honored, respected and cherished by her church family, including being named as the Mother of Zion Baptist Church.
Following family tradition, Gladys was also a long-term and devoted member and marshall of the Lightfoot Chapter No. 99, Order of the Eastern Star of Virginia, P.H.A. She was recognized for her service in an appreciation service on Sunday, Oct. 19, 1980.
She met and became the wife of the late Courtney Jones, of Saluda, in Middlesex County. Although, we always remember Gladys residing in Williamsburg, she traveled and lived in Louisiana, Fayetteville, North Carolina and Baltimore. Unfortunately, during his military career, Courtney was called home for eternal rest.
A few years later, Gladys was blessed again and joined in holy matrimony to the late Edgar “June” Stone for 42 years of love and happiness, until his call to glory in 1997. Hailing from Aberdeen, North Carolina, “June” as he was so affectionately called, was a jolly person, a hard worker, a good provider and truly devoted to his family.
Gladys was thankful to have Tiffany, her daughter and three children, Alex, Floyd and Kendrell, her grandchildren, Julie Stone Williamson and Teddy ”Willie” Williamson and her godchild, Shaheem. Additionally, Gladys leaves many to cherish her precious memories, including her sister, Louise Bartlett Jacobs Freeman, of Williamsburg; sister-in-law, Mildred Stone; her caretakers, Clarence White (nephew), Shirley Jacobs (niece), Janet “Luv Bug” Tisely (cousin) and Beanie Evans (home aid); and a host of loving nieces, nephews, relatives and caring friends and church family.
Please leave online condolences for the family Whiting’s Funeral Home.
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