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On a beautiful fall day, October 19, 1941, a beautiful baby girl Willie Dorothy Washington was born to Lovie Deere and Sellmon Washington in Camden MS. Most people did not call her Willie, to them she was Dorothy. Dorothy grew up as the baby girl of the family. She often talked about how her father and siblings dotted on her. She completed her education and received Christ, at a young age, in Mississippi.
In her late teens, she moved to Joliet, IL to live with her big sister Elizabeth “Lizzie” Washington and Lizzie’s husband Robert “Buddy” Catchings. Dorothy and Lizzie always shared a very close relationship, since Dorothy was born on Lizzie’s 10th birthday. After moving to Joliet, Dorothy became a member of the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church under Reverend Alva M. Varnado. She also met her wonderful husband Charlie M. Jones Jr in Joliet. They were married on November 24, 1964 at Mt. Olive by Rev. Varnado. Charlie had a lot of competition vying for Dorothy’s attention, but Charlie was determined to marry her, they were meant to be a couple. To this union two children were born, Cynthia Jones and Kimberly (Paul)Washington.
Before becoming a fulltime homemaker, Dorothy worked at the Holiday Inn Hotel and St. Joseph Hospital where she made many lifelong friends, including Geneva, Margaret James, Mozella, Eartha, and Wyvonia. She and her sister Lizzie worked on both of these jobs together. Early in her marriage, Charlie served in the military and was deployed outside of the United States. This how she became friends with Helen Gibson, who was tasked with driving Dorothy to the hospital to deliver her oldest daughter Cynthia. Dorothy named Helen and her husband Fred Gibson as Cynthia’s godparents and a lifelong relationship was born. Through Charlie, Dorothy met her other lifelong friend Hellen Banks. Her two best friends were named Helen.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents Sellmon and Lovie Washington, two sisters Luzanne Flemings and Essie Lee Washington, three brothers Booker T. Washington, Roosevelt Washington, and Simon Washington.
Dorothy loved her family and leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband of nearly 56 years Charlie M. Jones Jr., one sister Elizabeth “Lizzie” Catchings of Joliet, IL, two brothers Benjamin Washington of Joliet, IL and Paul Washington of Collins, MS, her daughters Kimberly (Paul) Washington of Joliet, IL and Cynthia Jones of Shorewood, IL her beloved son-in-law Paul Washington of Joliet, IL, grandson Jason Washington, special God-daughter, who was more like a daughter to her, Dana (Josh) McNair of Romeoville, IL, on whom she doted and was so pleased that Dana gave her two beautiful granddaughters Ryleigh and Reagan McNair, whom she continued to spoil.
She also leaves her godchildren Ryan Banks and Dominique Banks. She leaves two nephews and two nieces whom she helped raise Anthony “Tony” Willis, Timothy “TimTim” Willis, Tara Nobles, and Shirley Flemings. There are many special people who were near and dear to Dorothy’s heart, including Ryant Banks, Pamela Jones, Cassandra McNair, Lottie Moore, Barbara “Punkin” Willis, Odessa Jackson, Exidell Blackmon, and so many more. She leaves numerous, in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and family to cherish her memories.
Dorothy was a classy lady with a strong mindset. Once she decided to do something, she achieved it. The Jones household has been a shelter for many people over the years. The love that Dorothy had for helping people is her living legacy. She was a very strong and determined woman, who met her goals, the biggest of which was for her children to have a college education and to be able to take care of themselves. Dorothy was a Christian woman, who knew Who held her future. And she is now at home with Him.
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