Mamie A. Jenkins-Jones

Mamie Alice Jenkins Jones, 86, of Saint Joseph Township, surrounded by her family, departed this life on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan. A Celebration of Life Service will be on Friday, May 9, at Greater Community Church of God in Christ, 870 Nate Wells Drive, in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  The Family & Friends’ Appreciation Hour begins at 11:00 A.M.  The Celebration of Life Service begins, at 12:00 P.M with Pastor Nathaniel Wells III officiating.  Burial will follow in Crystal Springs Cemetery. Mamie was born on January 23, 1928, to the union of Albert and Alberta Parker Jenkins, in Noxubee County, Shuqualak, Mississippi.  She was the fourth oldest of nine.  After relocating from Mississippi, she later married Thomas Bradley Jones Sr and to their union she had Barbara, Geraldine, and Thomas Jr. After attending the Noxubee County School District, she completed her high school studies at Benton Harbor High School and graduated with her son Thomas and the BHHS Class of 1970.   Later, she attended Lake Michigan College. Mamie was known to many as “Honey” the name given to her, by her husband. She lived a life full of laughter and joy with her family and friends.  Being a generous person, Mamie was always giving of her self to others.  She made it her business to remember birthdays, by making sure she acknowledged you, with a birthday greeting card, along with a small token. Mamie was a member of the World War II Mothers and the Agency of Aging Foster Grand Parent for the Benton Harbor Area Schools.  As a member of the Greater Community Church of God in Christ, she served in the Senior Choir, the Young Women’s Willing Worker, the Young Women Christian Council and the Senior Mother Board.  She was a co-founder of the first Benton Harbor – Thresher Street Neighborhood Block Club, along with the late Virgil and Hazel May.  She was a Vice Queen Mother of the Lake Michigan Chapeauette Red Hat International Society.  Mamie enjoyed her flower garden, gathering historical news paper articles, travel, and host social gatherings (especially tea parties). She is survived by her brother Albert Jr (Queen Esther) Jenkins of Benton Harbor; her daughters: Geraldine Jones Knox and Barbara (Rodney) Henderson of Benton Harbor; her grandchildren: Houston Harris (Miranda) III of Columbia, South Carolina, Keenan (Gary) King of South Bend, IN and Ebony Harris Bobo of Benton Harbor, Bryan Knox of Kalamazoo, Danny Knox Jr of Detroit MI and Danielle Clark of Lake Charles, LA; her great-grand children: Kanisha Harris, Dexter Bobo II, E’Lexus Daniels, Alania King, Syndi Harris, Hailey Harris, Camryn Vela, Terrell Thierry, Ashton Coleman, Brittan Clark and Christian Vela; great grand-children: DeMaria and Karter Barnes; Special God-Grand Child: Jeffery McCoy, Jay Woodberry, Allen Bobo, Raquel (Monnie) and Giovanna Banks; Special Life Time Friends:  Henry Mae McClendon and Mr. & Mrs. Louis (Woodsy) Joseph; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, Jenkins and Parker relatives, church and community family. In addition to her parents, Mother Jones was preceded in death by her spouse Thomas Jones Sr. and her son Thomas Jones Jr; her brothers: Johnny Lee Jenkins, Herbert James Jenkins, John  S. T. Jenkins;  her sister:  Ruthie Bea Jenkins McClaebb, Katie Jenkins Bell, Nan Canary Hunt and Maddie Woods; her aunt Gertrude Jenkins Westfield, her uncle James Westfield, her cousins George Lee Westfield and Gary Westfield. Arrangements are entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph MI.  Share on line condolences at http://www.starks-menchinger.com.