Mrs. Marian Abel Jones Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

MARIAN ZENOBIA ABEL JONES was born June 29, 1926 in Columbia S.C. She was the 9th of 12 children and the youngest daughter born to Ira Beatrice Abel and Jepsie Thomas Abel. (The youngest child, Lewis, died as an infant). Marian departed this life on Saturday, July 31, 2021. Marian was educated in the public school system in Columbia and graduated in May of 1942 at the age of 15 from Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia. She excelled academically and was awarded a scholarship to Barber Scotia College in North Carolina, which was then a two year college. She graduated from Barber Scotia College. She then enrolled in Bennett College and, with help from her family, completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 1946. After completing her Bachelor’s Degree, she began teaching in the Columbia School System. On December 25, 1948, Marian married Edward C. Jones, Jr, of Sumter, S.C. He was one of only two black photographers in South Carolina at that time. Marian later obtained her Master’s Degree in Education from South Carolina State College in 1957. Marian taught in the Sumter School System for over 20 years. She taught Social Studies (U.S. History and Constitution) at Lincoln High School (formerly the all black Sumter high school) for the majority of that time. She was later moved to Edmunds High School (formerly the all white Sumter high school) as a part of the school district’s attempt to desegregate schools. Marian and Edward had three children: Marvene, E.C. and Beatrice. As a couple, they worked hard and provided a comfortable life for their family. They also extended helping hands to others in the family as well as in the community-especially young black people in whom they detected potential and drive. They embodied the concept “it takes a village”. In 1955, Marian and her siblings lost their Mother, and in 1956, they the lost their Father. In 1962, her husband, Edward, suffered a serious stroke which completely paralyzed him on his right side and caused some brain damage. This forced her to become the only family breadwinner, taking care not only of her children, but also of her husband. Despite the financial troubles, Marian kept her children well cared for and there was nothing that they needed that was not provided to them. She received some support and help from siblings. During this time, she mentored one of her 8th grade students, Robert L. Johnson. He became a part of this family and for all intents and purposes, her 4th child and older brother to the other children. On May 5,1969, Edward suffered another stroke on his namesake’s 16th birthday, from which he did not survive. Though the struggle to adapt to her husband’s condition and the changes in the family life was challenging, Marian’s relationship with God was always central to her life. She said that her faith and her prior struggles prepared her for Edward’s death. With concern for the need for her older teenage daughter to have positive extracurricular activities, she became involved with Emmanuel United Church’s Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF)in the mid 1960's, The MYF was lacking in leadership at the time. The MYF grew under her leadership. A new and exciting youth church choir developed, led by the youth themselves and attracting a wide array of youth, many with musical talents. Marian had no musical training or talent herself, but she was the inspiration and leader of this group. She became a mentor to many young people, with approximately 60 youth going through this organization during that time. She provided informal counseling and assisted many in gaining admittance and scholarships to college. At one point in time, there were 39 of these youth attending United Methodist Colleges. She also provided guidance to a number of youth who entered the ministry. Marian worked with the youth group until she left the Sumter School District to work directly with the United Methodist Church as Associate Director of the South Carolina Council on Ministries. In 1973, she was recruited and selected to become a Field Representative in the Office of Finance and Field Service, National Division, General Board of Ministries. During that tenure, she travelled to various places in the United States, as well as China, India and four developing counties in Africa. In 1990, she accepted a position with the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church headquartered in Columbus, Ohio where she relocated. She retired from the West Ohio Conference in 1993. Throughout her time with the United Methodist Church, she also worked closely with the national and regional Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) organization and was a Life Member. Marian loved her family - her children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews. She maintained contact with and tried to assist her siblings whenever she could. She developed special relationships with each of her grandchildren. She enjoyed being around family, and could be counted on to invite family for Christmas dinner every year. In 2008, Marian suffered a stroke, when her son E.C. had moved to Columbus to be with her for a while. After extensive rehabilitation, and additional exercise therapy with E.C., she began to walk again, with minimal assistance. In the spring of 2009, she moved to Fort Worth, TX with her daughter, Beatrice, who cared for her until her death. During her time in Texas, she affiliated with Dallas' St. Luke “Community” UMC and was inducted into the Senior Saints of Wisdom in 2010. Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Jones, Sisters, Oneta Tolson, Ocie Harris and Nearie White; brothers Earl, Harold, Broadus, Jepsie, Wendell, Melvin, Herman and Lewis Abel. She leaves to cherish her memory her Children, Aurelia Marvene (Jones) Brooks, Edward C. Jones III, Beatrice L. (Jones) Nealy, and Robert L. Johnson; Son- in law, Jefferson Brooks, and Daughter in law, Myrtle Johnson; Grandchildren, Maisha (Johnson) O’Neal, Ahmad Braxton-Jones, Sekou Brooks, Josina (Brooks) Woodruff), Malcolm Brooks, Marian Nealy, Chauncey Nealy and Camille Paxton-Akers; Great grandchildren Ta’von Francis, Ahmad Bosier, Khalil Stowers, Michaela O'Neal, Aniya Woodruff, Jaila Woodruff, Moriah Brooks, Cadence Paxton, Micah O'Neal, Cherish Upshaw, Avi Thompson and Cohnnor Akers; 4 Great great-grandchildren; 19 nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends. This is a socially distanced and Covid-19 compliant funeral service. Services will be held at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Sumter on Saturday, August 14, at 11:00 a.m., preceded by a viewing at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to following charities: *Bennett College Marian Jones C/O 1946 900 E. Washington Street Greensboro, NC 27401 or online at http://www.bennett.edu * M/O Marian Jones Emmanuel United Methodist Church Building Fund PO Box 1203 Sumter, SC 29151 To access the livestream of the service, please go to Facebook.com, search for Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc., and "like" the page. The livestream video will begin at the designated time of the service. Note: Persons must have a Facebook acct.

Mrs. Marian Abel Jones

June 29, 1926 - July 31, 2021