Inez Marie Jones-Saxon

THIS WAS MY LIFE

My journey through this life began on a wintry morn in January on the 23rd day, in the Year of Our Lord 1933, in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and state of Illinois.

I entered into this world as the youngest child of Anna Inez Gilmer and Ernest Edward Jones, Sr. My siblings were Ernest Jr., Berniece, Allien, and Charles Arthur.

Now, these were the vital statistics.

My infant and toddler years were uneventful. I entered Alfred Lord Tennyson School at the age of six.  I was too shy to go to Kindergarten.  I entered John Marshall High at the age of 13, and Chicago Teachers College at age 17.  I earned a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1954.  Some years later, I returned to school and earned a Master of Arts in Education at Northeastern Illinois University.  I guess one would call these my years of formal education.

In the years in between, I sold newspapers from the age of nine to twenty-one on my father’s newsstand on Campbell and Lake Street in Chicago. There I encountered a variety of characters who enriched my knowledge about what life is really about, not just jumping jacks and paper dolls.

At age 21, I married Master Sergeant George Edward Saxon, Jr. of the United States Army. From this union came two children, George Edward III and Sherrita Marie.

Being married to a military man afforded me the privilege and opportunity to see other parts of this country and of the world. I acquainted myself with different cultures and styles of living.  I could accept all people, and make them part of my circle of light and life.

As my journey through this life continued, I found that people are basically wonderful if I did not take the things they said and did too seriously. I looked for good and humor in most things.  Therefore, I found that I had been blessed, and had found much in this life about which to laugh.

I know that when this is read, I will be rejoicing and laughing, because I will have gone to a better and higher place. I know that I have seen Jesus.  I will already be UP YOUNDER.

So, do not cry for me. Sing only happy songs.  Ring the bells, and shout, “The victory is won.”

When this is published, I do not know who will be left behind, but say, “She leaves to rejoice her family and a circle of friends who she met along her journey through this world for her living was not in vain.”

Visitation will be at 11:00 am, with a funeral service to follow at 12:00 pm, Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S Litchfield Road, Goodyear, Arizona 85338.  Interment will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.