First Lady C. Brenda Jones

Life is God’s gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift to God. On March 26, 1942, Mrs. C. Brenda Jones entered the world as a beautiful, fearfully and wonderfully made creation of God, brought into the lives of George and Edith Reynolds. A native of Asheville, NC, she was the proud mother of Michelle Antoinette, Clifford Anthony, Jr., and Alexa Mariah Fortune-Jones, and the loving mother/aunt to Renee Reynolds-Darity. She was also a cherished grandmother to Jimaree Legins, Jai Legins, Michelle Antoinette, and Maria Deneen Jones. In June 1968, she married Dr. Clifford A. Jones, Sr., Senior Minister of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Together, they built a life centered around family, ministry, and mission, with God at the heart of everything they did. Mother Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, a Master of Counseling from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC, and a Master of Christian Education from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, NC. She also studied Anabaptist theology at Regents Park College in Oxford, England. Throughout her career, she taught English in Cambridge, Maryland, and in Louisburg and Clinton, NC. She spent 15 years as a guidance counselor for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools before retiring. In 1994, after a year of planning, Mother Jones helped bring her husband’s dream to life by establishing the Youth Opportunity University (YOU), a summer program that provided academic, religious, and cultural enrichment, as well as scholarships for both local and South African students. She co-founded CREW (Christians Really Enjoying Witnessing), coordinated the New Perspective Bible Study for women, served as an advisor for the Baptist Young Women (BYW), and was a facilitator of the Military Ministry. Additionally, she was one of the co-founders of the Friendship Day School. She also served as a Sunday school teacher, senior high superintendent, youth advisor, and director of youth at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Mother Jones made her mark at the local, state, and national levels as the chairperson for the Education Curriculum of the NC Women’s Convention and the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention. She served on the boards of the Urban League’s Teens-N-Touch Program, Dudley Beauty College, and Computer Empowerment, and was a facilitator for the Princeville, NC Clean-Up and Rebuild Initiative—an assignment given by her husband. She was also Co-Chair of the Christian Education Committee of the Women's Convention of the General Baptist State Convention (GBSC), where she influenced mission studies across the state. Furthermore, she served in the GBSC's Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows Ministry and the United Missionary Baptist Association's Minister’s Wives and Widows, where she was president during her tenure. Mother Jones’ desire was to leave a legacy in the lives of those she encountered—a monument of love for God, understanding, honesty, and sincerity. She had a deep love for people and never met a stranger, always greeting others with terms of endearment like “hun,” “shug,” or “sweetheart.” She was deeply devoted to her Friendship family, often greeting them with a heartfelt “Hello Family.” Known for her warm spirit, she didn’t stay in one spot at church but moved about, connecting with everyone she met. She was often found offering words of wisdom, encouragement, or sharing a favorite scripture. She had a corny sense of humor and loved to share jokes, one of her favorites being, “Where do sheep go on vacation? The Baaaa-hamas.” A faithful soldier on the battlefield for God, Mother Jones was a lifelong student of God’s Word. It was not unusual to find her in her favorite sunroom, deep in study and meditation. The legacy she leaves behind is one of kindness, compassion, and loving hugs. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Rev. Dr. Clifford A. Jones, Sr.; one sister, Doris Reynolds of Asheville, NC; three daughters, Renee, Michelle, and Alexa; one son, Anthony (Courtney); four grandchildren, Jimaree, Jai, Michelle, and Maria; two sisters-in-law, Esther Bey of Sicklerville, NJ, and Faye Reynolds of Asheville, NC; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children, and friends.

First Lady C. Brenda Jones

March 26, 1942 - February 27, 2025