Grace Neal Jones was born on September 13, 1921, the second of five children born to the late Wesley and Louvenia Bagley, in Blackstone, Virginia (Nottoway County).
She was educated in the Blackstone Public Schools. She continued her education at Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia, receiving a degree in Teacher Education in 1952. This prepared her for a thirty-six-year teaching career in Elementary Education in Blackstone, Virginia. She was known as a ‘stern, no-nonsense’ but caring teacher. She also worked with student choirs, staged lots of plays, and participated in other activities celebrating holidays with students and faculty. She received several certificates and other recognitions for her service to the school division.
Ms. Grace‘s parents saw to it that she and her siblings attended church to learn about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This began her true development of a love for God and her service to him and the church. She utilized the gifts and blessings of playing the piano and singing that were bestowed upon her. Ms. Jones took music lessons and, at eight years old, played and sang a song on a program arranged by the head of the Sunday School. From then on, she became very much involved with Shiloh Baptist Church (her HOME church). She taught Sunday School, played and taught for vacation Bible school, served on various church committees, became the Choir Director and Organist for twenty-five years, staged special programs at the church and Community Center, and gave music lessons to help youth and teens gain confidence to sing, play, and perform before an audience.
She was not much of a joiner, but she and others worked together to establish a chapter of the Order of Eastern Star in Blackstone. She also formed a Community Choir originally made up of singers from five churches. There was an alumni group (all 70 years old and over) that met for several years. They gave book scholarships, and after losing several members, they began meeting at her home. After the business meeting, they would play Pokeno for pennies. She looked forward to this and enjoyed the fellowship of good friends. Over the years, she played for several churches in the area, including Bethesda, Zion Hill, and many others.
She regularly played for church and community funerals. These sad occasions became times when she could fellowship with families and enjoy meeting and visiting with those whom she had not seen in a long time. She was surprised to be asked to play twice for funerals by the ‘White’ Funeral Director- how times have changed! She very quietly became known for helping others when they had special problems. She knew how to be confidential, and people knew they could trust her. She would lend money for a house payment, pay an overdue bill, contribute to a college payment, or help with rent. She took in three young sisters from SOCIAL SERVICES – Paula, Jackie, and Sherry, so they wouldn’t have to be separated. She had relatives in Richmond who worked for ‘well-to-do’ Jewish people, who would send her bags of clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. Of course, we benefited from these gifts, but Ms. JONES had several people in the community whom she knew would take these donations and see to it that those in need would receive them. She saw to it that our school books got recycled if someone needed them. Several churches and other groups recognized her for her accomplishments, but she preferred not to participate in such things. It became a family chore to push and coax her to attend. She reasoned that the Lord knew her service and that was enough.
Later in life, she moved to Williamsburg to be with her daughter, as she could no longer safely care for herself as she aged into her 90s. Leaving her dear Blackstone and friends was not easy for her. The family regularly heard, “I want to go to my house in Blackstone”! Occasionally, she would play piano at the Historic First Baptist Church, where her daughter and nieces attend. She became part of the church family.
Dementia and its cruelty struck, and she was moved to Cambridge Crossing Memory Care Center, where she was well known by the staff. She would play the beautiful grand piano in the reception area, and staff and patients would gather around to sing along.
Mrs. Grace Neal Jones was blessed to live a good life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wesley and Luvenia Bagley; her three brothers, Merrill Bagley, James Bagley, and Theodore Bagley; and her sister Alma Bagley Landis.
Her memory will forever remain with her daughter, Marjorie and son-in-law Robert Johnson; her niece Ethell Bagley Hill (who she raised from three years old); an adopted son James Leander Jones (who was 10 hours old when she brought him home); her grandson Robert Johnson Jr. and wife Jenny; and granddaughter Laneatra Hammond and husband Thermaine Hammond; three great-grandchildren, David Hammond, Lianna Hammond, and Makenzie Abbott; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
