Shirley Ann Edwards Jones

These are the days the Lord gave.  I rejoiced and was glad. At least for most of them.

The first was October 5, 1939.  That is the day I was born in a tiny, tiny town Lenox, Georgia.. I was the first child of Roosevelt and Ella Sue (Mathis) Temple.  Yes, I was the child of teen-aged parents but back then most first children were.

They were very happy to get me and from that day on I was almost smothered with love.  You see, I was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and for a while I was the only. So I was spoiled quite thoroughly.  Even when my cousin,Willie Mae (Jenkins) Mutcherson, came along, that didn't change because I was still the First!

I really loved living there with all my aunts and uncles and grandparents.  Even when my daddy went into the Army and had to leave us to go to the Philippines, I missed him like any three year old would but I never missed out.  

When Mom moved us to Chicago, one of her sisters moved also so I was still treated special.  Then Daddy came home and it was wonderful.  Except I had to start school.  I went to Nicolas Copernicus all the way through eighth grade.  

I was known as a bit of a trouble maker, but it wasn't really my fault.  I was born with only one external ear and even though my family knew I was special, at school a lot of the kids and even a couple of teachers would pick on me.  I had to defend myself.  But when the teacher did it, Mama came up to school and that took care of that.

Then I graduated Copernicus and went to Englewood High School.  Lot's of stuff happened. But most important I met Earl Garnett Edwards. He sang his way into my heart and I just knew he was the one so on October 7, 1956 we got married

Being an only child until my teen years, I always knew I wanted more children.  I had decided on four, two boys – Earl Garnett Junior and Darren Antione and two girls – L'Tanya Desiree' and Kim Gerise.  God in his grace gave me exactly what I asked for although the order got a little mixed up with a boy at each end.  That didn't really matter to me.  They were my greatest blessing and with each, I rejoiced.

Unfortunately, I had dropped out of high school once I got married.  Back then it wasn't nearly as hard to get a job without a diploma.  I went into the hardware business.  It always amused me when some men would come into the store for a part or a tool and wouldn't want to deal with me.  They would find one of the male clerks and usually get told “I don't know.  Let's ask Shirley.”

I would usually just say, and with a straight face, “Oh How can I help you?”  But I'd be grinning inside.

I did eventually get my GED which was a good thing.  After sixteen years I divorced and it was bumpy for a while.  But still I rejoiced.  My brother, Randy, moved in and convinced me I could not meet my responsibilities to my children and myself with the job that I had.  Kicking and screaming, he dragged me off to Malcolm X College.  He would make me so mad sometimes when I would ask a question about some class or another and either hand me a book or ask me three questions in return.  He could have just told me the answer but he would just say “Shira, you can do this.”

Guess what.  I did and I rejoiced.  We graduated on the same day.  I became a licensed radiographer at Cook County Hospital  where I continued until I retired after working my way up from staff technician to shift supervisor.

While I was at County, I dated occasionally.  After all I was divorced, not dead.  Then I was asked out by a gentleman that had been right in front me at my church home for years.  After some serious prayer and conversation, again I rejoiced when I married Carneal F Jones September 28, 1991.

By this time all my children had graduated high school and gifted me with grandchildren,

Earl Jr. gave me T'Lanya and Tiffany, L'Tanya gave me Xavier, Kim gave Gerise, Adrian and Wayne and Darren added Dameka and Ashley.  Each another reason to rejoice.  Especially because their parents all knew, I was the drop in and visit and send presents type of grandmother.  I had already raised my babies.

And then the grands started to have kids as well. God blessed me to see five living generations.  And I'm not even going to try to number all steps, the claimed, and the godchildren.  Just know His blessings were always bountiful.

 I was preceded in death by both my mother, Ella Sue, and father, Roosevelt. It hurt but I knew that was the normal way of things.  Being preceded by the father of my children, Earl Edwards Sr and my loving husband of 27 years, Carneal Jones was a big pill to swallow.  The loss of my youngest son, Darren, brought an ache that never fully left.

Yet I rejoiced for I leave behind far more that I know will keep me safe in their hearts and remember me in their prayers.  So many I won't even try to name them all.  And I know also that there will be moments of sadness at my sudden departure I ask all to remember when you wake tomorrow:

“This is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it!”  Psalms 118:24

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