She was educated in the Cumberland County public schools. On July 27, 1952, she married the late Bishop Charles Hood Jones. To this union was born 10 children. She was preceded in death by four children, Beverly Jones Matthews (2006), Dwight Anthony Jones (2006), Pauline “Chris” Jones Carnegie (2009) and Jennifer Lee Jones (2012), and her beloved husband, Bishop Charles Hood Jones (2011).
Ora was raised in and became a member of Antioch Baptist Church in Linden. She later joined the Revival Center Church in Linden with her family. Ora, along with her husband, Charles H. Jones, founded Temple of Faith in Fayetteville in 1976.
In addition to raising her children and being a homemaker, she often provided child care services for family and friends. As her younger children entered school, she started work in the dietary department in the Cumberland County school system and at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where she faithfully served until her retirement in 1997.
Ora demonstrated an intense work ethic which she applied to all aspects of her life, to the benefit of her employer, church and family. She possessed an ability to plan for unseen eventualities and through all seasons was a constant blessing to family. An early riser, she could often be heard giving God praise as she moved about the house to start her day. These expressions of praise complemented her consistent study of God’s word and was a manifestation of the faith that she possessed in her Savior. She was an excellent cook and baker and could be found in her kitchen most Saturday mornings joyfully creating various flavors of cakes and pies, to the delight of her awaiting family and many others.
She leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her life two daughters, Elaine Jones McLeod (Jim) of Jamestown, N.C., and Brenda Jones Harley of Suitland, Maryland; four sons, Edward (Lillie) of Tallahassee, Florida; Charles Everett of Takoma Park, Maryland; Raphael (Tanya) of Albany, New York; and Theodore (Kim) of Greensboro, North Carolina; a sister, Mary Colvin Williams of Fayetteville; sons-in-law, Eddie Carnegie of Sacramento, California, and Doral Matthews of Fayetteville; and daughters-in-law, Angela Swann-Jones of Greensboro and Jacqueline Barner Jones of Kernersville. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and devoted friends.
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