Constance Payne Jones

She was the second youngest of six children. Her siblings, Odell, Dorothy, Lloyd, Ruth, and Lilian all preceded her in death. At 18 years of age, she married Reverend William Edward Jones and soon moved to Washington, DC where they raised their children Gwendolyn, Barbara, Jennifer, and William.

She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in the river that lent its name to her city of birth. Our family life revolved around Florida Avenue Baptist Church, which we attended every Sunday. We were always so proud of our father sitting on the pulpit each Sunday. Daddy would tease Momma about a ladies group she belonged to who was putting on a program. All of the assignments had been given out and the head woman looked at Momma in exasperation and said, “Well, what can you do? I guess you can sell tickets.” As it turns out, she was able to do much more than that. She joined the Deaconess Board at Florida Avenue and rose to be the Head Deaconess. She was honored by the Deaconess Board for her faithful years of service, naming her Deaconess Emeritus, in a lovely ceremony at Florida Avenue, prior to onset of dementia.

Momma worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and because of her charming personality, was privileged to have a host of friends. There were always people in the house and she was no stranger to a party. She loved to host people in her home and dawned herself the “Hostess with the Mostess”--a trait that was surely passed down to her children and grandchildren. She was a master communicator and could talk with absolutely anyone about any topic. It was not uncommon to find her in a conversation with a stranger where both parties were talking about totally different things. Momma made friends everywhere she went. And, she had no shortage of them. Sadly, most of her friends preceded her in death: Martina Butler, Margaret Claiborne, Arneal Crocker, Mildred Coleman, and Anne Stephens. She is survived by one dear friend, Marie Singletary. Momma was fortunate in that she found love again late in life many years after Daddy died. She and Mr. Simon Walker met each other in HIgh School. He took her to her senior prom. They rekindled their relationship late in life and found great comfort in each other for many many years. She will be buried in the same cemetery as both of her loves.

At our family gatherings, before every meal, Daddy would always pray, thank the lord, and marvel that two could become so many. We did not take “be fruitful and multiply” lightly. Momma is survived by her daughters, Gwendolyn S. Skinner, Barbara J. Hanson, Jennifer E. Penn; her son William E. Jones, Jr; her sons-in-law Donald L. Penn and Kelvin W. Page; her grandchildren Chawn M. Tate and wife Monique T. Tate, Denon A. Penn and wife DeShawn C. Penn, Danon G. Quick, Ronald A. Skinner and wife LaRue R. Skinner, Derek A. Penn, Pia K. Tate, Scherie M. Leak and Samuel L. Leak, Jr, Laura A. Penn; her great-grandchildren Chawn M. Tate, II, Joseph E. Tate, Jade K. Skinner, Dakari J. E. Penn, Arnie S. Tate, Brittany T. Philemon, Da’Jha G. Quick, Jordyn K. Skinner, Destini N. Penn, DeSanni S. Penn, Ronnie S. Skinner, Troi M. Leak, Regan M. Leak, Denon J. Penn, Sydney M. Leak, Chloe M. Tate, Kennedy L. Relph, Karmen V. Relph, Logan M. Leak, Brandon L. Quick; her great-great grandchildren Chawn M. Tate, III, Mason A. Gethers, Sophia C. Tate, Omari Philemon, Amora R. Skinner; and god-daughter Sylvia E. Walker.

When we were children, Momma told us that when a slave died, the slave master would say, “she was a good old darky, but she gone now.” We would prefer to remember the lines from Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon: “but she is loved.” She is loved. What more could a person wish for? Those who truly knew and loved Momma know that she lived with a true zest for life that can be encapsulated by a quote found in Farragut Square. She would want us all to remember her by it and to live our own lives by those words, as well: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”