Chanie L. Jones

MRS. CHANIE L. JONES, affectionately known as “Sis,” was born to James and Martha Vaughan in Brunswick County, Virginia on August 25, 1919. She was the seventh child of a family of ten; all have preceded her in death. She departed this life at the age of ninety-four on November 1, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Rehabilitation Center after suffering complications from a hip surgery. Having accepted God at an early age; she was a true believer. She attended church even though in later life she could not hear the sermon, she liked being in a place of worship. She received her education in the public school system of Virginia and always regretted that she was unable to go beyond the seventh grade due to her parents not having $7.00 to pay for her to continue. She was a self-educated woman, never letting a hearing disability keep her from accomplishing her goals. She was attentive to her parents, brothers and sisters always offering to do whatever was needed to aid them. “Sis” arrived in Baltimore at the early age of twenty. She had been asked to come to join her other sisters Catherine, Ruth, Louise and Gracie. Sis became the care provider for Catherine’s son, Irvin, all living at 404 Bond Street. Because the family got bigger and bigger, Sis and Catherine purchased a house, 1213 N. Broadway. The stories from Bond Street and Broadway were many, and they all serve as our family legacy in Baltimore. Sis was at the heart of them all; she truly was the head of the household. In the 1940s she met and married Willie Jones who preceded her in death, and from this union two children were born Carletta (Peaches) and Marjorie. Although she only had two biological children she assumed the care and responsibility for other nephews and nieces whom she cared for as if they were her own, Irvin Hicks Sr., Sarah Reeder, Melvin Daniels, Mickey Peebles and George Vaughan. Sis developed a deep and special love for Irvin Hicks Jr. (grandson) and Jaelyn Sparrow (great- granddaughter) and Little Eric Taylor; they were the light of her life. Sis went to beautician school to learn hairdressing, and for a lifetime she always did hair. Her employment life was varied, working at Glen L. Martin assembling airplanes during World War II, Johns Hopkins University cleaning resident rooms for the medical students and at Caplan Law offices. During this time she also provided day care for a number of families maintaining this vocation well into her 80s. Sis met and maintained many lasting relationships throughout her life; she left a lasting impression on everyone. Although she had a hearing disability she never let it dictate her life, doing everything she set out to do and completing the task. She was a wonderful counselor and always had time to listen. She loved to say, “Where there is a will there is a way”. Sis will be missed by a host of friends and family whether it is just sitting and talking, eating her food (especially the sweet potato and coconut pies), the stern lectures you would get when you knew you were wrong or just her telling you everything was going to be okay because God had a plan. Chanie leaves to mourn: her devoted daughters, Peaches and Marge and her “Son,” Irvin Hicks Sr.; son-in-law, George Johnson; daughter- in-law, Donita Buffalo; grandchildren, Ebony Holley (Unsolo), Travis Johnson, Irvin Hicks Jr., Karim Hicks, Genevieve Hicks and Tesfay Kifle; great-grandchildren, Jaelyn Sparrow, Tyler and Darrian Hicks and Samuel Gebreyohannes; loving “Daughters,” Cathy Dandridge and Ernesta Taylor (Eric); “Grandchildren,” Renita Dandridge-Shoats, Eric III, Elyse and Ellison Taylor; special nieces, Essie Vaughan, Sarah Reeder and Gale Warner; special nephews, Clement Trusty and Benjamin Vaughan; special neighbors, Ida and Richard Harris, Mozelle Smith and Anne Hubbard; a host of other nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

Tributes

Chanie L. Jones

August 25, 1919 - November 1, 2013