Beulah Robinson Jones

On January 26, 1933, Beulah was the third child born to Mack and Beulah Robinson in Newark, NJ. She grew up and attended public schools in Newark until her family moved to Eatonville, FL in 1940. After graduating from the Robert Hungerford Vocational Boarding School, Beulah matriculated to Florida A&M University, pursuing her lifelong passion of becoming an educator. While attending FAMU, Beulah pledged and was inducted into the Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in the Spring of 1957. Beulah graduated from FAMU in 1959 and spent many years as an educator at her high school alma mater, Hungerford High School. She taught Special Education there for 11 years before moving to Rochester, NY. While in Rochester, Beulah was able to apply her God-given traits of patience, kindness and a gentle spirit to educate emotionally handicapped children, teaching in the public school system there for 6 years. Education was always a priority for Beulah and she obtained her Masters in Education from Nazareth College in Rochester. Upon her return to Florida in 1976, Beulah transitioned into a mainstream classroom at Lake Weston Elementary in Orlando, teaching 3rd and 4th grade until she retired in 2004 after over four decades of teaching. Throughout her career, she was asked to pursue leadership roles but her passion was in the classroom, where she could demonstrate a loving and positive impact on the children she taught. At the age of 7, Beulah was baptized and became a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville, FL. In 1976, Beulah returned to Macedonia, under the then leadership of Reverend Peter L. Lias and later, Pastor Willie C. Barnes. Until her recent illness, she was a loyal and faithful servant on Usher Board #1 and a volunteer at the Soup Kitchen at Macedonia. Just as she took pride in her career and her church, Beulah’s influence was also felt in the community. After pledging Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated at Florida A & M University, she joined the Delta Omicron Omega chapter in Orlando, FL. She later became a charter member of the Nu Iota Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in Maitland, FL. Beulah was also instrumental in serving as an Advisor of the first chapter of The Charmettes Teen Club for teenage girls in Eatonville and Winter Park. She was an officer and member of the Orange County chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. During the summers, Beulah continued her passion for educating children while working in the SPAW (Summer Performing Arts Workshop) program, sponsored by the Zora Neale Hurston museum. She continued to volunteer after her retirement from teaching, often assisting new teachers with setting up their classroom and curriculum to set them on a path for success. Beulah’s trademark characteristics of kindness, patience, generosity, and love transcended throughout every aspect of her life. All who have come to know her speak highly of her character, integrity, commitment and sweet spirit. She insisted on treating everyone the same, regardless of title, income level or position in life and has been known to say, “Don’t ever think of yourself as better than anyone else. Everybody has some good in them.” She was great at listening and encouraging others and always took time to make everyone feel special. Her family and those very close to her were blessed to have witnessed her wonderfully dry sense of humor. In her final days, it was the laughter, the stories, the family gatherings and the beautiful memories, that would serve to sustain her loved ones for many years to come. To celebrate her life, Beulah is survived by her husband, Lawrence L. Jones, her children: Ann Denise Courtney, Clydia Lynette Vaughn (Eugene), Angela Jones, Reggie Morris (Vandoris), Elaine Mitchell (Isaac), Ramos Jones (Yolanda), Dana Jones, a grandson that she raised: Warren L. Anderson (Christine), three grandchildren with whom she had a special bond: Jordan C. Vaughn, Shaquilla “Kiki” Atus (Joe), Myles X. Vaughn and fourteen others, five sisters-in-law: Josephine Robinson, Beatrice Smith, Bertha Pryor, Sandra Exantus, Patricia Glenn; three brothers-in-law: Wilbert Thomas, Robert Blackman (Inell), Kevin Blackman (Qvonda); and a host of other treasured family members and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Mack and Beulah Robinson, her sister, Anne M. Key, her brother, Willie M. Robinson, two brothers-in-law, one son, a son-in-law, and three nephews.

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Beulah Robinson Jones

January 26, 1933 - March 20, 2019