Catherine Burrell Jones, of Timmonsville, South Carolina quietly took her journey home to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 9, 2014. Born on May 2, 1926 in Florence, South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Gertrude Simmons and Robinson Burrell, Sr. Both of Catherine’s parents were deceased by the time she was four years old. She was raised by her brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Verneter Burrell.
Catherine’s formal education was in Timmonsville, South Carolina where she graduated from Brockington High School. At an early age Catherine married John Henry James Sr. Out of that union was born her only child, John Henry James, Jr. Her beloved “Johnnie” preceded her in death at the tender age of 23 after becoming a casualty of the Vietnam War; now they are together again.
Catherine moved to New York City at the age of 18. There she raised her son Johnnie and lived a fulfilling life. She worked as a proof reader for many years until her retirement.
In December 1977, Catherine married the love of her life, Willie Jones. She was passionate about their union and dedicated herself to obey God’s word and she gracefully remained a submissive wife to Willie. Willie preceded Catherine in death by just three months. In 2002, Catherine was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to his own committed care, Willie entrusted Catherine’s care to two special family members, Willie Mae Short and Clemmietine Johnson.
Catherine was an active member of First United Mission Apostolic Church until her health failed. Mother Catherine was a faithful servant and bible school teacher. You could count on her to have “sweets” and she readily shared them with both school–aged students and adults.
“Kitty” as she was known by her friends and family, always took pride in presenting herself neatly dressed and she impeccably kept her hair styled. She was infamous for recognizing those she loved with her infectious, “Chocolate Sugar” sentiment.
Treasuring her memory: two loving granddaughters, Dawanna Brown of Brooklyn, New York and Vanessa Foreman of Ellicott City, Maryland; their children, Nephetia Miller (Shawn), Elaughn Davis-Lance (Maurice), Riquel Brown, Richard Brown III, Sadiq Abdul-Wahhab and Malik Islam. Six step-children: Willie Mae Short (Ashton Jr.), Rudolph Harvey Jones (Betty), Sophia Dixon (Calvin), Ronnie Jones (Gail), Beatrice Patricia Miller (Gerald) and Ted Jones; great-grandchildren and great-great grandchild; two brothers-in-law: Henry Jones and Ulysses Jones (Martha); four sisters-in-law: Alice Williams, Isadora Ellerbe, Alma Jones, and Clarice Lewis, Care Giving niece, Clemmietine Johnson and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Proceeding Catherine in death are step-daughter, Carolyn Braxton; four sisters, Beatrice Goodwin, Thomasina McKie, and Ernestine Burrell Williams, her beloved brothers, William Burrell and Melvin Burrell and her sister-in-law/mother, Verneter Burrell.
Catherine’s granddaughters would like to especially thank Catherine’s step-daughter, Mrs. Willie Mae Short for the time she spent caring for Catherine in Baltimore and her niece Clemmietine Johnson who took such good care of Catherine during her last few years.
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