Shirley Bowen Jones

Shirley Bowen Jones, age 94, of Cottondale, Ala., died May 28, 2018, in Macon, Ga. Services will be 3 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2018, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Barry Holland and Rev. Colby Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Gardens with Memory Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. prior to services at the funeral home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Leonard Jones, Sr.; sons, William Leonard Jones, Jr. and Johnny Mack Jones; parents, Jesse James Bowen and Annie Belle Allsbrooks; and sisters, Jackie Everett and Marsha Bowen.

Survivors include her daughter, Rhonda Jones Thomas; sons, James Frank Jones (Dot) and William R. Jones (Sonny) (Betty); sister, Bonnie Sperling (Walt); brother, Jesse J. Bowen (Jen); ten grandchildren, Joshua S. Thomas (Brandi), Zachary C. Thomas (Lauren), William L. Jones, III (Tracy), Shane Jones, Jason Jones, Jeff Jones (Diane), Wendi Kay Jones, George Jones (Tammy), Ronnie Jones (Robin) and Kristi Watkins (Rob); 15 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Shirley was born in Jamesville, N.C. She excelled in academics. She played women’s basketball in the 30’s and rumor has it, she and her friend Margie were the best two women players that ever came out of that school. After she married the love of her life, they moved to Tuscaloosa. When WWII started her husband (Leonard) joined the Army and was stationed in California. She and her son Bill started to California. They stopped in Flagstaff, Ariz. for a few days’ rest and while there she learned her husband had been transferred to the Pacific Theater. While in Flagstaff, she worked as an operator for Bell Telephone and as a waitress at the Black Cat Café on the famous “Route 66” until the war ended. After the war they returned to Tuscaloosa to raise their family.

From that point on she spent the rest of her life taking care of her family, her friends and neighbors and serving the Lord. She worked at DCH for 40 years and after retiring, she worked at University of Alabama Athletic Events until she retired at the age of 94. The last year and a half she lived with her daughter Rhonda in Macon, Ga.

She was the true example of what a Christian should be. She always put Christ first, then everyone else, then herself last. Her favorite saying was “Jesus loves you and I do too!!” When she told people they knew that she truly meant it.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

Honorary pallbearers are Tim and Sandy Barger, Paulette and Jimmy Albright, Richard and Marty Allen, Barbara Tidmore and the Howard Hendrix family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church or Johnny Mack Jones Endowed Scholarship Fund at Alumni.ua.edu.