Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 2 October 1997 — Page 6

The Muncie Times, October 2,1997, Page 6

JONES continued from page 1 “She’s a very nice person, a very beautiful daughter, who checks on me or calls me and her dad every day. I am proud that she is my daughter. I am proud of what she has done, including raising her children on her own. “But I keep telling her that she works too hard. “Nellie was a very good child I never spanked but twice while she was growing up. Even then, she was very busy. She had all these little jobs that she was doing. She is a worker. She raised her two boys by herself. She bought a car and furniture by herself. She has always been like that.” Nellie Jones seems to agree. “I just see so many things that need to be done and I get involved. I am not much into joining groups and organizations. But I do belong to various committees and boards. “I am an outgoing person who tries to work with various people who are in need. I love to give, to help others. I do so much for so many groups

because I want to help them. When people ask me to do something, I do it. “I think I can say I am a compassionate person who tries to do the right thing by everybody. I am interested in politics. I like political activities because I am interested in what’s going on in the community. I was brought up to believe that the purpose of politics is to help people who are in need. “I am also a hard worker. Hard work does not deter or frighten me. I had no help, except from my parents and family, when I was bringing up my sons. So I want to help others. I have always wanted to help people. “I guess that is because I love God. God has helped me so much. I was raised in a Christian home. My mother is a minister and a musician. I am a member of Calvary Baptist Church.” Others also agree that Nellie Jones is a very caring person. Among them are Kathy Bennington, a former Muncie School Board member who is now working for Delaware

County Child Support Services. “Nellie is a beautiful person. She is absolutely beautiful. She has a heart as pure as gold and as big as Texas. She is a wonderful, caring, loving person. Nellie is one of my dearest friends,” said Bennington. “I value the time we spend together. A few years ago, we went on a cruise together. It was such a wonderful experience. “Nellie is someone who really cares for the community. If anyone needs help, Nellie is there. I just love her to pieces. I wouldn’t trade her for anyone else.” Jones and Bennington met 5 years ago during a reception at Bennington’s sister’s house. “I met her strictly by accident. We instantly became friends. We’re like sisters, except we don’t fight. She’s a wonderful person. We get along so wonderfully,” said Bennington. Nellie was bom more than 40 years ago to Allen and Kamese Jones. Her father, now retired, worked 37 years for the C & O Railroad. Allen Jones, who was bom in West Virginia but later came to Indiana, retired from

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the railroad about 20 years ago. Nellie’s mother, who was bom in Kentucky, became an ordained minister in 1943. Next year, she will open Revival Center United Church of God at 805 E. Seymour St. Nellie Jones maintains a hectic schedule. She works the afternoon to evening shift in the environmental services section of Ball Memorial Hospital, where she has been employed for 21 years. Two years ago, she got another job in the direct care center of the Youth Opportunity Center. She also has cleaning and custodial care contracts with a number of Muncie companies. On Jan. 1, she will open A Brighter Tomorrow Day Care Center at 1015 Kirby Ave., Muncie. “I will be the director for the center, which will be open 24 hours a day. It will be the only such center in Muncie,” she said. “We expect to house up to 60 kids per day. I am working hard right now, doing everything to get a state license for the center. “The future of our lives lies in our children. If I can do anything to provide a better tomorrow for our children, then I will have done my duty.” She also owns rental properties in Muncie and Anderson. Then there are her political involvements. Beside her pre-

cinct committee work, Jones has sought elective political office before. Four years ago, she ran for Center Township trustee and lost. She also lost a bid for the Muncie City Council 2 years ago. But that has not soured her on politics. “I was asked to run next year for the Center Township Advisory Board. I agreed. I think I can make a difference by helping people,” she said. “I was motivated to run for trustee and the city council because I thought I could make a difference. I felt the office needed real change and that I could provide that. I thought I was right on the issues. “I love people. I want to do things to help people. I love people. That’s why I agreed to run again next year for the Center Township Advisory Board.” Beside being a workaholic, Jones also likes adventure. Last July she made her first trip to Africa. She was one of three Munsonians—the others were bail bondsman Odell Scott and his brother-in-law Jessie Nelson—who joined thousands of African Americans and Africans on the trip. They went to attend the fourth African and African American Summit held this year in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The group also see JONES on page 9

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