Veronica (Vera) Jones

Veronica Carmen Jones (nee) Payne, affectionately known as Vera, was born to Xavier Payne and Carmen Valladares. She was born on September 26, 1931 in Charlestown, Guyana and died on November 12, 2022 in Melbourne, Florida.

Vera married Winston John Jones and together they had six children – Michael, Janet, Paula, Bryan, Jacqueline, and Jewel.

Vera became a member of the American Red Cross Society and used this forum to enter the medical field, honing her skills to eventually become the Matron of the Princess Margaret Home for Handicapped Children.

Vera raised her six children by instilling in them the importance of family, church, and higher learning. As did her mother before, she nurtured and fostered her children's relationships with God. Toward this end, she did what she had to do to ensure that they received the best education and instruction in the Catholic faith. She did it all with pride, a great sense of humor and wit, while never letting life’s obstacles deter her from her number one priority - faith and family. Not a day went by without her reading her Daily Word, and she showed her gratitude for all her Blessings by generously donating to the Church in the name of her favorite Saint, St. Jude.

One by one, Vera watched her children leave Guyana and emigrate to the United States. In 1977, she emigrated to the U.S. in order to be with her children. Vera procured employment at several group homes while continuing her education to become a licensed practical nurse. She obtained a job at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey until retiring in 2009. In 2011, Vera would settle in Melbourne, Florida.

Vera loved to travel the world, with cruising being her favorite form of traveling. Vera visited many countries including England, Hong Kong, and South Africa to name a few. One of her favorite forms of entertainment was playing the slots – in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Tampa, Miami, and, of course, on cruises.

Vera was predeceased by her mother and father, her older sister Sheila DeCruise, her younger sister Agnes Dillon and her younger brother Kenneth Dillon.

Vera is survived by her children Michael Jones (Indroutie), Janet Jones-Owen, Paula Janeczek (Joseph), Bryan Jones (Charlotte), Jacqueline Jones-Gregory (Patrick), and Jewel Jones-Fulton (Mark); and her brother Edward Dillon (Annabelle). Vera was also blessed with fourteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, November 22 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 5655 Stadium Pkwy, Melbourne, Florida with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00 AM. A private interment ceremony will take place at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Vera's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.