Obituary of Clara A. Jones

CLARA AGNES McGAIRK JONES and her twin brother, Claude, were born October 29, 1921, to Alex, Sr. and Minnie (Washington) McGairk in Byhalia, Mississippi. She was educated in Byhalia, Mississippi, and Charleston, Missouri. Clara started cooking at the age of eight for the members of her family who were working in the fields. Her responsibilities increased when her older sister died, leaving Clara her son Ray to help raise. Her cooking skills served her well throughout her lifetime and blessed many people. The family relocated several times: from Byhalia Mississippi, to Charleston, Missouri, to Pulaski, Illinois, to Muncie, Indiana, to finally settle in Toledo, Ohio. Clara accepted Christ at an early age and attended church in the various cities where the family lived. She eventually united with the Phillips Temple CME church in Toledo. Clara met her husband, Joseph Jones in Toledo in the 1950s. They bought a house where they welcomed and entertained family and friends. The home became a gathering place for the family. Clara counted it a blessing to be able to take care of her aging mother for a number of years in that home, making her mom feel loved and comfortable until she passed away. Clara loved to take care of her home. She especially enjoyed planting flowers and would often help her neighbors plant flowers in their yards. In addition, Clara would on occasion serve as a cook and caregiver for people in her neighborhood. After her mother and her husband passed, Clara went to work in cafeterias in the Ohio public school system, in the dietary department. Both the students and the staff enjoyed her cooking and the kindness she demonstrated. Clara Jones was called Home to be with The Lord on Thursday, November 19, 2020, after an extended illness. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, all of her siblings, and her husband. She leaves to cherish her memory, her nieces; Shirley Alexander, Deborah Moody, Willie Lee Jones, Nancy Marr (Vincent), Charlotte Hodges (Donnell), and Louise Eddington; and her nephews Jack McGairk, (Cheryl), Alex McGairk, and Rickie Vaughn, Dorcas McGairk (Harold-deceased) Other extended family members include her great and great-great nieces and nephews. Cynthia Jones, Nicole Alexander, Charisse Alexander Murphy, Nicole Ware, Jelanie Eddington, Michelle Edward (Anthony) Alexander Murphy, Andrew Murphy, Anthony Jr., Maegan, Charlotte Joy, Valerie and Phillip McGairk, Farah Nicole Ware, and Christina McGairk. Clara Jones’ Celebration of Life service will be live streamed on my.gather.app/family/clara-jones on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, starting at 11:00 a.m. EST. Final arrangements are being handled by Serenity Funeral and Cremation Services. The address is 6202 Michigan Road in Indianapolis, Indiana. Internment and Committal will occur on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery Association. The address is 1502 West Central Avenue in Toledo, Ohio. For any questions or additional information request, please contact Yvonne Williams at Serenity Funeral and Cremation Services. The phone number is (317) 757-6604.