Vera & Willie video: A happy holiday time in May 1996

Help Us Honor the Life of Vera Gwendolyn "Gwennie" Jones

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved mother, Vera Gwendolyn Jones—known affectionately as “Gwennie” by all who loved her.

Gwennie was the very heart of our family. A sweet, gentle soul with an unshakable strength, she was both a calming presence and a force to be reckoned with. Her unwavering love, loyalty, and devotion made her the matriarch of our family and a cornerstone in our lives. As the oldest living descendant of Bernie and Carrie Ellen Jones, she carried generations of love and legacy with her.

In late February 2025, our world was turned upside down when our mother received an unexpected diagnosis: stage 4 cancer. The news came suddenly, and the disease progressed aggressively. In less than four months, she left us—far too soon and with little time to prepare for what lay ahead.

For decades, our mother responsibly maintained a life insurance policy. It gave her peace of mind that when her time came, her family would be cared for. Tragically, after years of consistent payments, she was mysteriously dropped from her policy—leaving us without the financial support she had long planned for.

Now, in the midst of grief, our family is facing the burden of making final arrangements without the resources or time to prepare. We are reaching out to our community—those who knew and loved Gwennie, and those moved by her story—for support.

Your donation will go directly toward covering funeral and burial expenses, as well as helping us honor our mother in the way she truly deserves.

Any amount, no matter how small, makes a difference. If you are unable to give, please consider sharing this page and keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for your love, kindness, and support during this incredibly difficult time.

With gratitude,

The Jones Family

Fun fact:

Vera was an administrator in the Mayor’s office during the late 1980’s and 90’s in Columbus, Ohio. She worked with Mayors Buck Rinehart and Greg Lashutka, earning award plaques and certificates for her outstanding efforts. She spear headed awareness in Columbus regarding the upcoming law: The Americans with Disabilities act. From Columbus, she also worked on the “Brady Bill.”

Vera had a husband and six children who love her dearly. Two of them preceded her in death. We joined Rev. Leon Troy’s 2nd Baptist church in 1987. He was instrumental in getting her the Mayor’s office position.