Mildred Holt Washington Jones

Mildred Holt Washington Jones was born March 19, 1930 in Ocala, Florida to Dorris James Holt and Zeevie Williams. Mildred attended public school in Marion County, graduating from Howard High School. After her mother passed, she delayed her desire for higher education to care for and ensure that her younger siblings, James Gray and Annie Mongeon, graduated from high school and moved to the next phase of their lives. Once James was in the service and Annie was off to college, Mildred matriculated to Bethune Cookman College (now University) in Daytona Beach, Florida. She graduated with a Bachelors degree in Education. Mildred moved to Flint, Michigan and taught kindergarten and first grade for over 30 years until she retired to return to Winter Garden, Florida to help care for her stepmother and her father. Even in retirement, her love for children and their education inspired her to teach part-time in Winter Garden and to tutor privately as well. Mildred gave her heart to Christ at a young age and embraced the spirit of a servant. While living in Flint, she joined Quinn Chapel AME Church under the leadership of Reverend Braxton Burgess. When she returned home, she joined St. Paul AME Church under the leadership of Dr. William Simmons, and later joined Mt. Tabor AME Church in Altamonte Springs, Florida under the leadership of Reverend Gene Allen Brown. She embraced the scripture, Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” She served as a Steward, President of the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS), and member of the Layman Organization in all three churches. She also serve the community she loved as a member of the City of Winter Garden’s Police and Firefighter’s Pension Plan Board for many years. She met and married Sylvester Washington early in life, to whom no children were born. In 2016, she met and rekindled a long time friendship with Ervin Jones of Winter Garden, Florida. They were married on August 9, 2017. Mildred was preceded in death by her first husband, Sylvester Washington, mother, Zeevie Williams, father, Dorris James Holt, sisters, Annie Mongeon and Dorothy Wright, brothers, James Holt, Sr., James Gray and Herman Staggers. Mildred leaves many warm and joyful memories to her husband, Ervin Jones of Winter Garden, Florida; stepdaughter, Etha Jones of Orlando, Florida; sister, Lillian Redd of Ocala, Florida; aunt, Clare Holt of Roanoke, Virginia; sister-in-law, Rose M. Holt of Kissimmee, Florida; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, godchildren and friends.

Tributes

Mildred Holt Washington Jones

March 19, 1930 - November 25, 2018