Velma Jean Jones

Obituary: Velma Jean Jones, daughter of the late Tom C. Hodge and the late Katie Bell Young peacefully passed away on September 11, 2023. A beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi on March 29, 1947, and her journey touched the lives of many. Velma held a deep belief in God and lived life to the fullest, embracing every moment with an adventurous and free spirit. At an early age she moved to Detroit, Michigan and later relocated to Chicago, Illinois with her oldest siblings. She met and married the late Fred Jones and through their union three daughters were born. Velma's early education took place at Hyde Park Academy High School in Chicago. She later relocated to Reno, Nevada where she worked in construction as one of the first African American females in the industry. Here she resided alongside two of her closest sisters Anna and Shirley. Some years later, Velma moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where she worked in nutrition services as a chef providing meals to the community. Velma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (Fred Jones), and her siblings Bennie F. Gilmore, Beatrice Gilmore, Charlie B. Gilmore, Jimmie L. Hodge, Shirley Ann Galloway, and nephews Michael Gilmore and Gary Brown.To cherish her memory her daughters Darnise Jones-Fielder, Chantal Jones, and Rupunzal Hodges, her adoring grandchildren Venus Love, Lacey Gibson, Cedric Herrera, Eric Herrera, and Bryonna Kimpoumbidi, her precious great-granddaughters Ezarya Bundick, DeJahna Bundick, DeJa Bundick, and Jayla Garrett, her great-grandsons Raphael and Nasir Shokai. She leaves behind her siblings Anna Hodges-Byrd (Herman L. Byrd), Ardella Demyers, Tommie Cynthia Hodge-Sykes, Sharon Hodge, and Katherine Theresa Hodge White, brothers Robert L. Young, Walter L. Hodges (Kimberly Hodges), Jerry C. Hodges (Tanya Hodges), Mark Hodge, Roderick Hodge and a special friend Akram Hassan. Velma also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, each holding a special place in her heart. Veronica & “Pumpkin” Gilmore, Jerome Gilmore, Rickey Gilmore, Troy Gilmore, Vanessa Gilmore, Gregory Gilmore, Vickie Gilmore, Arvelis Byrd, Ali Byrd (Carolyn Byrd), Yolanda Galloway, Latisha Blackmon, Rashida Gay, Elijah Hodges, Tiffany Hodges, Austin Hodges, Jessica Hodges-Wilson, Robert S. Young, Melanie Young, and Jerry Brown along with a host of great nieces and nephews.

Velma Jean Jones

April 12, 1975 - September 11, 2023