Irene Jones

Funeral Mass for Irene Ford Jones of Marksville will begin at 11:00am on Friday, September 2, 2022 at St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Hickory Hill with Fr. Abraham Varghese officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Irene Ford Jones entered this life on December 18, 1947, as the second child of Eddie Ford & Elize Jacobs Ford in Marksville, LA. Irene was baptized at an early age at Holy Ghost Catholic Church and attended St. Richard’s Chapel where she served many years as a sacristan. She was joined in Holy Matrimony to Howard Jones in September 1967; to this union 2 daughters were born. She departed this earthly life on August 29, 2022.

Irene graduated from Mary M. Bethune High School in 1966 and Milwaukee Area Technical College in 1971. She was employed as a teller and later promoted to assistant manager in International Banking at First Wisconsin National Bank-Milwaukee, making her the first black woman in management in this company. After moving back to Louisiana, she was employed by Cottonport Bank. During her employment, she was promoted to manager of the Mansura Branch, making her the first black branch manager in Central Louisiana and the first black woman bank manager in Louisiana. After 35 total years of banking, she retired from Cottonport Bank in 2008.

She leaves to cherish her wonderful memories and carry her legacy, her loving, devoted husband of 54 years, Howard Jones; 2 daughters, Amanda Wilmer (Robert Bener) and Dionne Lair (Ron Sr.); 4 grandchildren, Roslyn Jones (Bradly Sr.), Carl Wilmer, Jr., Ron Lair, Jr., and Ryan James; 1 great-grandchild, Bradly “BJ” Jones, Jr.; 2 brothers, Marion Ford (Rebecca) and Lawrence Ford (Melissa); 1 sister, Patricia Ford (John); 2 Godchildren; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She also leaves to cherish her memory her special friends: Theresa Augustine, Rosa Lee Batiste, Mary McGlory, and Catherine Augustine; her special daughters, Anitra Walker-Doe, Veronica Martin, Debra Coleman, Fredna Prevot, Amanda Murray, Christina Todd, and Daniell Phillips; a special granddaughter, Brittany Vasser.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, Eddie & Elize Ford; three sisters, Georgene Clayton, Sheila Conway, and Miranda Martin-Shuler; one brother, Freeman Ford; and one nephew, Marcus Conway.

Visitation will begin at 9:00am until 10:30am on Friday, September 2, 2022 at Escude Funeral Home in Mansura.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” II Timothy 4:7-8

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Escude Funeral Home (318-964-2324) 6608 Porterie St. Mansura, LA 71350.