Minnie Mae (Norwood) Jones

Minnie Mae (Norwood) Jones

DECEMBER 5, 1929 ~ SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 (AGE 89)

Minnie Mae Jones, née Norwood, age 89, died at Foster Rehab & Health Center after a brief illness in Chicago, Illinois.

Her funeral service was held on Saturday September 28, 2019 at 11:00 am at the Oak Hill MB Church with Pastor Gene Bowden in charge.  Burial was in the Mt. Zion Cemetery and Dixie Funeral Home (www.dixiefuneralhome.com) was in charge of the professional service.

A Time to Live: She was born on December 5, 1929 in Bolivar, Tennessee to the union of the late Preston and Lillie Mae Norwood, née McTizic. Minnie was the eldest of the six Norwood children. She was preceded in death by one sister, Mattie Calhoun-Williams and one brother, Charles Norwood. Minnie was raised in the rural communities of Bolivar. During this time, she accepted Christ as her Savior at Holiness Church in 1943. She later became a member of Oak Hill M.B. Church. She attended Pine Grove School along with her future husband, LT Jones (Mearlon and Velma Jones, née Cox). On December 17, 1952, Minnie married LT at Mt. Zion Spiritual Church. The ceremony conducted by The Right Reverend E.M. Dupree in Chicago, IL. To this union, five children were born. After 60 years of marriage, LT preceded her in death in 2012. Minnie enjoyed life as a career woman. She worked various office jobs in her younger years. In 1959, she began work as a stay-at-home mother. Then, in the mid-1970’s, she returned to the labor force as a department store cashier and worked her way up to Department Store Floor Manager for Goldblatt’s. After Goldblatt’s relocated, Minnie attended Chicago State University and enrolled in business & floral art display classes on Saturdays. She next worked as an administrative assistant for Silverwood Realty Co. Her final job was with the City of Chicago as a Title V Senior Aid for the Department on Aging from which she retired in 1992. Minnie’s pastimes and civic activities varied. She regularly attended the COGIC with her best friend of 67 years, Ms. Gladys Davis. Minnie enjoyed sewing, house plants, making pineapple coconut cakes and cooking for family gatherings. Minnie also enjoyed serving as President of the 600 East 90th Place Block Club. She and club officers would arrange travel vacations to over 40 states. Minnie was also proud of her civic duties; such as helping to orchestrate a boycott of Evergreen Plaza Shopping Mall. The boycott occurred due to discriminatory hiring practices. The mall apologized and corrected the issue. She was also a “vocal member” of the Chesterfield Community Council for her neighborhood. Her integrity and fair-mindedness will be missed by many. Finally, Minnie’s ultimate pastime was “going back home” to Tennessee during the summertime. The only time Minnie missed “going back home” was in 1966 when her youngest son, Darryl, was born in August. Her last visit was in 2013.

A Time to Die: Since 2014, Minnie battled Alzheimer’s Disease. Then, two months ago, a rare form of liver cancer appeared. Our family was heartbroken. The staff at Seasons Hospice referred to Minnie as “one tough old woman”. She endured her failing health. God says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God, in His infinite wisdom, dispatched angels to escort Minnie home to eternal rest on Friday, September 20, 2019. She leaves behind to continue her legacy and cherish her memory: Sandra R. (Rafael), Melvin (Sharon W.), Sharon, Darryl A. (Yolanda) and Linda; thirteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one brother, Billy F. Norwood (Teresa) of Michigan; two sisters, Ruby Norwood-Young of Illinois and Ruthie McGuire (Sam) of Tennessee; daughter-in-law, Carmelita Ivy-Jones, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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