Thelma Joanne Green Jones at the age of 89, entered eternal rest on Monday, November 29, 2022 following illness at St. Vincent Medical Center (Riverside) Jacksonville, Florida.  Thelma was born Friday, May 19, 1933 to her father, Otis Green, Sr.  from the Dominican Republic and to her mother, Gracie Merritt from Yelvington, Florida.  She was a life-long member of Elizabeth Baptish Church, Orange Mills, Florida.

After the tragic death of her mother, Thelma along with her two younger siblings Odessa (Palatka, Fl) and Otis Jr. (deceased) was raised  amongst a host of loving aunts and uncles in Yelvington, Florida.  Later, they resided with their Aunt Luvenia Merritt (Dawson) and Uncle Robert (Bob) Dawson in Hastings, Florida.

Thelma attended Hastings Vocational Training School (later known as Walter E. Harris High School), Hasting, Florida.  S he graduated amongst the top students in the Class of 1950-1951.  She made a drastic change in her life when she decided to attend training at the then Putnam Memorial Hospital in 1970 to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) where she loved working the nightshift at HCA Florida Putnam Hospital for over thirty years.  In addition to her job as a CNA, she played an important role in Jones Brothers Trucking (found by James Sr.) and then Jones Trucking (found by her third son, Gerald).  She was the glue that kept both companies well-known throughout Putnam and St. Johns Counties.

She later met her soulmate James Sinclair Jones, Sr. (deceased) of Live Oak, Florida then married in 1953.  Thelma an d James, Sr. had six wonderful children;  Artiss Levon Jones, James Sinclair Jones, Jr. (Blonde Wesley Jones), Gerald Owen Jones (Sharlot Johnson), Elijah Anthony Jones, Jacquelyn M. Jones, and James Bernard Jones.  Thelma is preceded in death by her husband James Sr. and children, James Bernard (2008), Gerald Owen (2008), Elijah Anthony (2013), and Jacquelyn Marnita (2016).

Thelma leaves behind two sons; James Jr. (Middleburg, FL) and Artiss (Orange Mills, FL). Eleven grandchildren; Jessica Payne (Warrenson), Tiffany Blackwell (Brennen, S r.), Kandice Montgomery (Jacobi), Damian, Anthony, Torrance (ILisha), Erika, Elena , Deonte, Carolyn, and Pamblia Whitfied.  She also leaves behind her sister, Odessa Williams and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation Friday, December 9, 2022 / 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm at D. A. BOYD & SONS FUNERAL HOME 924 Reid Street, Palatka, FL 32177

Celebiation of Life Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 11:00 am at  HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD CHURCH 129 Big Apple Road, Palatka, FL 32131

The Funeral cortège will depart from D. A. Boyd & Sons Funeral Home 924 Reid St, Palatka, FL 32177) at 10:20 am.