She was named after her great grandmother Mahalia Thomas, and raised by her grandparents Adam and Narcis L. Nelson. The family moved to Bryan Texas when Mahalia was 9 years old. She attended local schools there and was a member of the track team, choir and cheerleader squad. She was graduate of the Kemp High School class of 1949 where she was voted "Most Beautiful Eyes".
On January 4, 1950, Mahalia married her high school sweetheart, Amon Jones Sr. and moved to Houston, Texas later that year. Mahalia and Amon Sr. decided to settle in Houston and soon after started a family. In 1955, Mahalia joined Pure Light Missionary Baptist Church, founded by Reverend Joseph Brown Sr., where she remained a devoted member of the church and choir until the closing of their doors.
In 2012, Mahalia joined New Era Missionary Baptist Church of Channelview Texas under the direction of Reverend James Adams. She was named "Mother of the Church" and remained a faithful member until her death on August 5, 2020.
Mahalia lived a lifetime in service to others. She worked 15 plus years for United Way Services as a Family Care Specialist and continued her secular career another 15 years as a private-duty Childcare Specialist for a number of prominent families in the Houston Medical Center area.
Mahalia was a beautiful, strong and vibrant woman who was known for her kindness and generosity. She liked to fish, but someone else had to bait her hook because she had zero tolerance for worms. She loved to cook and was well known for her creative culinary skills. No one was ever hungry in her presence. She fed everyone. She became an accomplished entrepreneur in the food and beverage industry. From 1973 to 1982, Mahalia owned and operated "A & M" Drive-In, aka "The Place", a community icon!
Mahalia is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Amon Jones Sr, her sons, Amon Jones Jr. and Micheal A. Jones, as well as two brothers and one sister. She leaves behind a legacy to celebrate her life, including four loving children, Melvin E. Jones, Gwendolyn J. Jones, Zina Y. Jones and L.J. Jones(Dominique), one sister, Mary Lee Brown, ten grandchildren, six great grandchildren, six great great grandchildren and a many loyal and dear friends and family.
The Jones family would like to acknowledge that there is such comfort in knowing that for every step we take, we are not alone during our hours of deep sadness.
With deep gratitude, we offer many warm thanks for your sincere expressions of love and deep concern.
Your calls, cards, flowers, food and services before and after the loss of our Mother, soothed our doubts, and calmed our fears that we are alone. Your prayers and each kind deed filled our hearts with joy. May God Bless you and keep you in his Love.
~The Jones Family
The family will accept friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2020. The Celebration of Life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2020 in the Family Chapel of Brookside Funeral Home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brooksidefuneralhomelauder.com for the Jones family.
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