Willia Mae Jones

Willia Mae Hill was born on October 27, 1941, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania to the late Johnie Edwin and Ruth Mae Hill. To her friends she was affectionately known as “Mae”, but to her siblings she was known as “Nurse Jones”. We would consult with her about medical issues as simple and minor as a tooth ache or as serious and critical as major surgery. She was wise and spontaneous. She took pleasure in helping others.

Mae departed this life on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Medical University of South Carolina (Northeast) three days before her 85th birthday.

At an early age she joined Holy Cross Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In later years she joined Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church (East) also in Philadelphia, PA, where she was a faithful member and where her cousin Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller is the Senior Pastor.

Mae attended the public schools in Philadelphia, PA. After high school she pursued a career in the medical field where she was a student at Albert Einstein Medical School and earned a degree as a respiratory care therapist. She worked in this field for many years before moving to Columbia, South Carolina.

Upon relocating to Columbia, SC, Mae incidentally soon became a child care provider for little Alexis Drayton, Kennedy Randle and many others.

Willia Mae was preceded in death by her brothers James and Leon Hill and grandson Brian Barrett. She leaves to cherish her loving memory her children: William Lonnie Jones, Tonia Kerr and Wendell Jones; siblings Gwendolyn Morris (Robert), Regina Spruill and Reginald D. Hill, grandchildren; Brooke Lynne Jones, LaToya Jones, Everette Gadson, Jr., Sean Gadson, Francis Schmidt, III, Ryan Barrett, Kimberly Vargas, Karen Vargas, Shyriah McCleary and David Jones; great-grands Jayden Trapp, Ruthie Morgan Trapp, Jordan Marie Jones, DeVaughn Gadson, Aiden Vargas, Ryann Vargas, Zayde Overlton, Quavir Smith, Aziah Travers, Oliver Travers, Dior Jones, Nala Barrett, King Barrett, Prince Barrett and MoJo Barrett; nieces Simone Morris, Courtney Plotts, Hayden Spruill and London Gaskins; and nephews James Hill (Dinene) and Ryan Spruill (Anabel) and a host of cousins and friends.