Priscilla Jones

Priscilla Jones, age 89, passed away on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at Oakmont Estates in Mansura. 

Celebration of Life will begin at 11:00am, on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at St. John Community Baptist Church in Marksville, LA (531 St. John Street).

Visitation begining at 9:00am to 11:00am, on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at St. John Community Baptist Church in Marksville, LA (531 St. John Street).

Internment will follow at St. John Community Church-Baptist Cemetery.

Priscilla’s Story 

I was born at home on a cold day on January 9, 1935 “down the river” (the Black River) in Catahoula Parish near Jonesville. I was the third child born to Shelton Gilbert and Alberta Channel Gilbert. My older brothers were Morris Gilbert and Lones Gilbert. My younger brother Irby Gilbert arrived a few years later. My father died when I was barely five years old from what we used to call lockjaw after stepping on an old tree stump. After my father’s death we moved to Hickory Hill to be closer to family. I accepted the Lord at an early age and was baptized at Star Light Baptist Church by the Reverend Culabe Johnson. I loved attending The Colored School in Hickory Hill where I earned the best grades in my class becoming the Valedictorian of the 8th grade class. There I met a young Army enlisted man by the name of Clarence Jones and we became penpals throughout his military travels. 

My mother married her second husband, Mr. Pem Dorsey, and we moved onto his farmland. We all worked the fields and earned everything we got the hard way! There my two sisters Deola and Olivia were born. We called Deola, Penny because she was so small and we called Olivia, Jackie because my mother had intended to name her Jacqueline. I continued my studies at Marksville Colored High School where I was very driven to make good grades so I would not have to work in the fields forever. My brothers Morris and Lones agreed, since I was the smart one in the family, they would pay my college tuition so that I could become a nurse. But after spending time in a New Orleans hospital with my mother, I realized that I was scared of blood. I decided to become a teacher instead so I followed my cousin Waver Milton to Grambling in 1953. Every month at Grambling I waited anxiously for that $21.00 to arrive in the mail from my brothers, who sacrificed getting married or having children so they could support me. I worked in the school library and when Clarence was discharged from the Army, I told him I would only date him if he went to college.

We were married on Mr. Pem’s farm on May 30, 1956 when I was a rising senior and he was a junior. Because he had military benefits, my brothers were off the hook for my tuition and they went on to marry and start their own families. I graduated in January 1957 and took a teaching job in Lake Charles at Washington High School. Clarence continued at Grambling until his graduation a year later. Sadly that year, my mother passed away and Clarence and I took over rearing Penny and Jackie, who were only nine and eleven years old. We built our home on Ferdinand Street in 1960, right next door to my inlaws, Walter and Stella Jones. We fellowshipped at St. John Baptist Church with the whole Jones family. In 1961 we welcomed our son, Kenneth Wayne and when he was small, I finally got a job in Avoyelles Parish at Carver High School in Simmesport. In 1961, we welcomed our daughter Sheila Renee. I taught 5th and 6th grades at Fifth Ward School for the majority of my career. I earned my Master’s Degree in Education with honors from Southern University in 1979. At St. John I served in many capacities including Sunday School Teacher, Director of the Youth Department, Deaconess and Women’s Ministry. I was a teacher and the Director of St. John’s Stay Free Program for several years. One of my most cherished roles was the secretary for the Sweet Beulah Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. I retired from teaching in 1984 after nearly 30 years. 

Clarence and I embarked on many road trips over the following years visiting 24 of the 50 states. On our 50th anniversary road trip Clarence, joked that he had outlived all my other boyfriends. In the 31 years that our daughter and son-in-law have lived in California, I visited 47 times enjoying our three grandchildren, Quinton, Noelle, and Danielle. In 2014, Clarence left us to go to glory. These past 10 years I have treasured watching our family grow, attending every graduation, basketball and volleyball games, theater performances, pageants and recitals and a beautiful wedding. I earned more frequent flyer miles than most 89 year olds can imagine. The most remarkable family event we celebrated was the birth of and recently the 1st birthday of my only great grandchild, Daniya Denee Lilley. I hated to leave you all, but please find comfort in knowing that I stayed in the race until the very end and I have finished my course. 

Priscilla was preceded in death by her parents, Shelton and Alberta, her brothers Morris (Doris dec’d), Lones (Valeria), Irby (Christine dec’d), her sister Deola (Calvin dec’d), and her beloved husband of 58 years Clarence. 

She is survived by her son Kenneth of Marksville, daughter Sheila (Myron) of San Bernardino, California, her sister Olivia of Pontiac, Michigan, grandson Quinton (Danise) of Ft. Worth, TX, granddaughter Noelle of New York City, NY, granddaughter Danielle of Houston, TX, and great-granddaughter Daniya of Ft. Worth. Other loving survivors include a close family friend Dwayne Martin (Nicole), her Godson’s Donald Hornes and Cordell Guillory, special cousin Clemetine Bonton, her birthday twin Dorothy Joshua, and her dearest Sisters in Christ Ruby Guillory, Glennis Greenhouse and Gertrude Keller Davis. A loving host of nieces, nephews, and cousins all celebrate her extraordinary life today. 

The Jones and Lilley family wishes to acknowledge the staff at Avoyelles Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, OakMont Estate Assisted Living, Jackie Patterson Bonton, Jackie Holmes, all of whom made our mother’s life brighter and lighter in her later years. We also wish to thank our family and friends at St. John Community Church-Baptist, Temple Missionary Baptist Church, and all who supported us with your prayers, visits, and meals during this difficult time. 

Those honored to serve as active pallbearers are, Quinton Lilley, Charles Young, Dwayne Martin, Tehran Martin, Ritchie Johnson, and Emeric Jacobs; honorary pallbearers are, Shelton Gilbert, Howard Jones, Lones Gilbert, Carl Mayeaux, Lennon Cole, and Donald Homes. 

 Arrangements Entrusted to Escude Funeral Home, 6608 Porterie Street Mansura, Louisiana 71350, 318-964-2324.