Elora Virginia Jones was born on July 30,1937, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to Tennie Johnson and Jesse D. Lawrence.  She spoke of a tough childhood growing up, relying on her grandmother, Julia Cooper Johnson, or “Big Mama,” to teach her the essentials of survival while her mother worked as a housekeeper away from family.

Upon graduation from high school, Elora married W. R. Jones and, along with her brother Tyree Lawrence, moved to Akron, Ohio, in the hopes of finding prosperity.  Her husband worked as a janitor and later as a postman, and Elora worked as a seamstress for a local dry cleaner.  The two gave birth to three children, Gizelle, Marcus, and Katrina, doing their best to instill the promise of education and a good work ethic.  Elora attended college for a few years and told her children that, despite what society may tell them, they were college-bound.   Elora was a strong Christian woman, and she raised her three children, instilling strong Christian values.  Later, she was able to obtain a job working for the City of Akron in their property department, making sure her children had everything that they needed and wanted.

Elora was an avid and excellent bowler.  She held various league offices due to her trustworthiness and kindness to others.  She was an excellent seamstress, owning her own small business where she created wedding and bridesmaid gowns for numerous weddings.  Elora felt that it was her civic duty to serve and hold offices in her local block watch group, committed to keeping her neighbors happy and safe.

Elora loved her 4 grandchildren, and they became the focus of her life.  Purchasing a van just for them, she spent weekends driving them on “adventures” where she fed them whatever they wanted and instilled the same values in them that she had instilled in her children. She cherished those memories and kept that van in pristine condition, which the family still owns to this day.

Elora was preceded in death by her parents, Tennie Johnson, Jessie, and Rena (Mama Rena) Lawrence; husband, W.R. Jones, and son Marcus Jones; her brothers, Tyree Lawrence and Jerry Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her memory: sister, Jeanette Johnson; brother, David Johnson; daughters, Gizelle (Anthony) Jones Thornton, Katrina Jones; grandchildren, Janiece Kemp Jones, Janita Jones, Denzel Williams, Martice Williams, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Elora was blessed with a full life.  She was strong, tough, giving, and wise.  Her spirit will continue to touch all of us.  “Well done, my good and faithful servant, Well Done!”