When the time comes to bid this life farewell, we should find comfort in knowing that a loving God will be there with us to guide us to our new home.

https://my.gather.app/remember/lillian-t-jones 

On the morning of Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Lillian Louise Thurston Jones, at the age of 86, peacefully accepted Gods hand, put on her crown, her wings, and flew away. Lillian, most often referred to as Auntie Lou, or Sis was born on January 10, 1940, to the late Sandy and Elizabeth Thurston in Louisa, VA. She was the 8th of her 11 siblings.

Louise (as she was affectionately known) has always been a member of the Mount Gilliam New Site Baptist since early childhood. She was always an active and participating member of her Church, and appointed as a Deacon. She served as the Church custodian until her health started to fade, and old Father Time caught up with her. She continued her work as a missionary for Christ while getting involved in many neighborhood and community activities, including distributing food to the community from the local food bank. She also provided transportation and food to the elderly and often visited the sick and shut-ins at hospitals and nursing homes. 

Louise was affectionately known as a Mother/Mom, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Great Aunt and Mrs. Louise, and mostly our Matriarch. She had many unofficial job titles: Mom, first, Sister to her younger siblings who she raised starting at the age of 12, neighborhood/community babysitter, advisor on many and all subjects, licensed CNA, driver/picker up to and from after school activities, cook (who never failed to tell you how to cook your dish and what temperature to use). She is known to tell any and everyone exactly what was on her mind, even if it would hurt your feelings, but she would follow it up with, you know I only told you that because I care about you, but know, she meant every word she said. Everyone who came in contact with her was drawn to her uniqueness. Even as she was undergoing treatments at Sentara Martha Jefferson, she often received compliments on how “cute” she was, because her outfits always matched, including her hats.

She started her work career at a Factory in Orange, making jeans, and then went on to be a teacher’s aide at A. G Richardson School for a few years. She also worked as a CNA for a short while. After deciding to be a stay home Mom, she became the neighborhood, go-to babysitter and cared for many children as they were growing up and through out their school years.

Lillian Louise was an excellent cook, (especially her coconut pies) most of the kids she babysat remember her unusual way of providing meals, as she would say to them, if you get hungry enough, you will eat what she gave you. She is most remembered for her unique way of making toast, 4 pats of butter in each corner of the bread, the best toast ever… She retired from cooking when her husband James, retired. At that time she openly admitted, I hate cooking and I ain’t gonna do it anymore (and she didn’t). Everyone knew that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, that you were not to make any plans for her, as that was her time out with her sisters, Lucille and Linda, and all the seniors at the Betty Queen Center. Not only did this get her out of the house and kept her active, she formed many special bonds with Nancy and Shirley?…She loved attending there, and was always ready for a game of spades. She would be ready to whip up on anybody as she was very competitive in this area, and if you turned out to be a bad spades player, she would let you know, as she played to win, never leaving out the bragging rights. Her other favorite past time, of which she was also very competitive was, monthly games of Pokeno with her sisters and nieces. This was more of an adult women’s social hour (except for when Jay would crash their party). They not only would dress up, they came to eat and sip, before they got serious with the pokeno game. If one person won too many times, you would start to hear murmuring from her end of the table, like… OK, let somebody else win, or if you win again…. And when it came to the last game, the black out… she had no friends and her only intention was taking home that big cup of nickels. Louise was not very fond of a lot of TV, but you can bet that during baseball season she would takeover the TV sitting in her favorite chair where she often watched the games and her favorite team, New York Yankees. Often, she spent time with her special friend George Jones whether it was going to various churches, taking a ride out, or watching baseball games. She would always chose and root for the opposing team, just to keep things lively. To past the time away, before going to bed, Louise would often sit at the coffee table and play solitaire. Most nights she played until she won the hand, even if it took an hour to win. She also taught her grand children how to play and was remembered when her grandson Tristan was playing and he said, that ain’t how Grandma taught me to play.

Louise was preceded by 4 brothers, Curtis, John, Mitchell, Spencer and 1 sister, Lina.

Louise was united in holy matrimony to the late James Harrison Jones, III, on March 27, 1961, during this 45 year marriage they were blessed with six children, and she raised two grandsons, Cray and Tione who have lived with her and affectionately consider their grandmother, their Mom. She was devoted to her husband and children, grandchildren, and sisters and brothers. Never speaking loud, but always a straight shooter, she said what she meant, and meant what she said… She inspired many, and many have wanted to be as strong, and as graceful as she was. Even though she endured hip and knee replacements, and walked with a cane sometimes, she still strutted whenever she dressed up and left the house.

Lillian Louise leaves to cherish her memories: three daughters: Gail, Sandy and Brandi, all from Fort Washington, MD; three sons: Darryl (Linda), Richmond, VA, James, IV, Weldon, NC and Richard, Alexandria, VA; eight grandchildren: Tione Jones, Louisa, VA, Cray Jones, Washington, DC, Karena Keller, Charlotte, NC, Tykira Davis, Damien Davis and Tristan Jones, Alexandria, Nala Porter, Fort Washington, MD; two adopted grand daughter: Zarie Smith, Fredericksburg, VA, Nia Demery, Richmond, VA; one great grandson: Chilo Semaj Jones, Washington DC; two brothers, Samuel (Bernice) and Bobby Thurston, Louisa, VA; three sisters, Lucille Jones, Linda (Sherman) Collins, and Phyllis (Ronnie) Holland, Louisa, VA; one brother-in-law, Ervin Jones: one sister-in-law, Celeste Thurston and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

To the Thurston-Jones family, we at D. D. Watson offer our most sincere sympathy and condolences. Our prayer continues to be that your abiding faith in God will lend to you a measure of comfort that will strengthen and sustain you during your time of sorrow.

It is during such times as these that we draw upon our faith, stand upon our scriptures, and rely upon our God. There is no question that in this and through this, God will keep you, comfort you, and sustain you. You and your family are forever in our prayers.