Alice Mae Jones

Obituary
Alice Mae Mariah Jones (Morris)

There are some women whose lives become larger than themselves. Women whose homes become gathering places. Women whose hands become healing hands. Women whose prayers become protection over generations. Alice Mae Mariah Jones (Morris) was one of those women.

Alice was born on March 2, 1921, at Hillman Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, to Alvin Morris and Margaret Labelle (Douglas) Morris. As the second oldest of ten children, Alice stepped into responsibility early. Before she was ever called nurse, mother, missionary, mentor, entrepreneur, or matriarch, she was “the big sister”, the dependable one, the helper, the steady hand, her mother’s right arm. Even as a young girl, Alice carried herself with grace, wisdom, discipline, and a quiet strength.

Alice deeply loved, honored, and respected her mother. She often bragged about how good “Mama” was to her and her siblings, speaking with gratitude about the care, structure, faith, and discipline her mother poured into their lives. Margaret Labelle Morris demanded excellence from her children, not out of harshness, but out of love, vision, and a belief that they were capable of becoming something greater. Alice was frequently heard quoting “Mama,” carrying her mother’s words, lessons, and standards throughout her life.

She often spoke about the lessons her mother poured into her and her siblings around the kitchen table and through Sabbath School teachings. Margaret Morris taught her children about obedience, dignity, education, faith, and perseverance. Her words became the blueprint Alice would later build her own life upon:
“It is better to obey than to sacrifice.” “Stay away from the very appearance of evil.” “Keep striving for the goal.”

A woman of ambition, intelligence, and unwavering faith, Alice graduated from Parker High School, completed her nursing education at Jane Addams Vocational School of Nursing, and faithfully served as a private-duty nurse well into her 90s.

On September 24, 1940, Alice married Louis Wilkens Jones in Birmingham, Alabama. Together they raised four children: Lois, Frank (Buddy), Frederick (Bonny), and Letitia (Tish).
In 1946, Alice and Louis relocated their family to Cleveland, Ohio, carrying with them faith, ambition, and the hope of greater opportunity. What they built became far more than a home. Alice became the bridge. In the spirit of Harriet Tubman, she provided passage for those who came behind her. One by one, family members made their way to Cleveland and lived with Alice and her family until they were able to stand on their own. Her home became a refuge, a training ground, a safe place to land, and a doorway into new beginnings.

Alice and Louis were also entrepreneurs who built and operated Jones Painting and Plastering Co., a family business that created jobs and opportunities for their sons, relatives, friends, and members of the community. Their business was rooted in hard work, integrity, and service to others.

Alice believed deeply in education. Not only academic achievement, but also an education grounded in faith, discipline, and excellence. She was a trailblazer in nursing and healthcare, inspiring several of her sisters, nieces, daughter, and grandchildren to pursue careers in Nursing and Anesthesiology. She also championed Christian private education and helped pave the way for several of her grandchildren to attend Catholic and Seventh-day Adventist schools, including Mount Vernon Academy Boarding School and Ramah Junior Academy.

A fourth-generation Seventh-day Adventist, Alice became a leader in her Cleveland community. She served faithfully as a deaconess, choir member, Sabbath School teacher, and leader in Prison Ministries and Health Ministries.

A woman of many talents and creative gifts, Alice enjoyed sewing, making pottery, upholstery, baking, and music. Her passion for learning and personal growth also led her to pursue voice training at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Social Science Studies at John Carroll University. A soprano, she loved singing in the choir and lifting her voice in praise. She also had a deep appreciation for the performing arts. Alice shared that love with her family by taking her grandchildren to ballet and opera performances and filling her home with the beauty of classical music.

Alice was vibrant, energetic, and always on the move. She believed a person should never stop learning or growing. In her 80s, she enrolled in computer classes at her local library to stay engaged with the changing world around her. Throughout her nursing career, she mentored younger nurses, taking them under her wing and sharing wisdom, discipline, compassion, and professionalism.
At 98 years old, Alice pioneered a one-woman feeding ministry. Often collecting food from local food banks and the Salvation Army, then distributing it to church members and people in need throughout her community. She offered prayer, encouragement, Bible studies, and comfort to those around her. Even at the age of a 100, she continued driving independently, ministering to others, and serving her community with remarkable strength and vitality.

When interviewed by the Allegheny West Conference Newsletter, Alice shared these heartfelt words:
“We need to show people love, that’s it. They just want to know that somebody cares about them; that somebody loves them. I am always trying to learn new ways to teach, reach, and love people.”

Alice’s life of service and leadership earned her the love, admiration, and recognition of many throughout the community. She received numerous acknowledgements, certificates of appreciation, and honors for her years of ministry, nursing, mentorship, and community service. In recognition of her continuing service and support, she was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from Present Truth SDA Church on October 2024, honoring her enduring commitment and impact. 

Her life was a reflection of her favorite scripture, Proverbs 3:6: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin Morris and Margaret Labelle Morris; her children, Lois Labelle Weathersby, Letitia Rose Norwood, and Frank McKinley Jones, Sr.; and her siblings, Hugh Douglas Morris, Eleanor Battle, Beulah Jones, Charles Morris, Robert Harvey, Margaret Ann Woodson, John David Harvey, and Merion L. White.
She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Rose Mary Walton; her devoted son, Frederick “Bonny” Jones (Liz); and her beloved grandchildren: William Sutton, Sr., (Nicole), Alicia Sutton, Richard Thomas (Michelle), Dan Sutton (Angela), Clyde Weathersby, Monique Childs (Derrick), Olympia Norwood-Austin (Zelig), Ebony Jones, Letitia Jones, Frank McKinley Jones, Jr., and Michelle Jones. Also left to cherish her memory are 19 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren, along with a host of extended family members, church family, friends, neighbors, mentees, and loved ones whose lives were forever changed by her love, wisdom, generosity, and faith.

Some people leave memories. Alice left a pathway. She leaves behind a beautiful and enduring legacy of faith, compassion, wisdom, leadership, entrepreneurship, education, service, creativity, culture and unconditional love. Her life touched countless hearts, and her memory will forever live on in all who knew and loved her.

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