Mary Catherine Jones

Mary Catherine Jones, 83, a beloved member and community activist of the Smith Hill community, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2018 at Tockwotton on the Waterfront after a decade long battle with Alzheimer's. Mary, who was affectionately known to everyone, including her own children, as "Miss Jones", worked at Smith Hill Library for 40 years. As a librarian, Miss Jones developed many programs promoting cultural awareness, education, health issues and advancement for marginalized groups and people of color. When faced with funding cuts, Miss Jones fought diligently alongside dozens of other library staff and patrons to keep all the libraries open. Two of the programs she introduced, the "Keep Our Families Warm Campaign", providing residents with seasonal winter clothing, and the Children's Christmas Party, providing with free toys, food and fun, still take place every year at Smith Hill Library. In addition, Miss Jones taught Black History classes to generations of children in the library's after-school program.Miss Jones worked tirelessly with state and local politicians to help poor residents of Smith Hill obtain better housing, access affordable health care and health education. She played a key role in improving the schools in the Smith Hill area and worked with other community leaders to find creative ways to support teachers and create more jobs for residents. Miss Jones also served on the board of the Neighborhood Health Center for over 35 years, was a co-founder of the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation and a co-founder of CHIC, which worked with landlords and tenants to fix up buildings. Mary's service to the community was honored at Providence City Hall on January 31 with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hall of Fame Award.Miss Jones' lifetime achievements have been previously recognized through the Jefferson Award and a place on the Providence College Wall of Fame.Miss Jones is survived by her sister Bessie Jones, her children Althea Graves, Anita Jones, Angela Jones, Aaron Jones, a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family across the United States. She is preceded in death by her son Anthony Jones, and her sisters, Hazel Ashe, Laura Nickerson and Dorothy Sumlar.Viewing will take place 11am-12 noon on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith St. Providence. A service honoring her life and legacy will be held immediately thereafter. Burial in North Burial Ground, Providence. Miss Jones will be dearly missed by all, but her memory will live on in our hearts forever.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 245 Waterman St #306, Providence, RI 02906 in her honor. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.boyleandsonfuneralhome.com