Mary S. Jones

Mary Pearl Selfridge Jones (May Pearl) was born on July 15, 1938 in Stockbridge, Georgia to the late James Otis Selfridge and Mary Elizabeth Jones. Her family eventually relocated to Portsmouth Virginia. Mary was the oldest of five children, which included James Otis Selfridge, Jr., Bennie Melvin Selfridge (deceased), Thomas Franklin Selfridge (deceased), and Elizabeth Selfridge Robinson. In childhood, Mary attended Our Lady of Victory School in Portsmouth, Virginia. She went on to graduate from Norfolk State in 1963 with a bachelor of science in Health and Physical Education. While in college, she played sports and participated on the drill team. She shared wonderful memories with her best friend, “Chic”, Evelyn Hyman. After graduation, she worked as a teacher. While in Virginia, she was blessed to have her first two children, Christopher Selfridge and Regina Selfridge. In the middle 60’s, she moved her family back home to Georgia. For a short while, she worked at the Atlanta Post Office. She was blessed to have her next child, Bruce Selfridge. In 1968, she was invited to Seventh-day Adventist evangelistic meetings. Mary was baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist in August 1968. While a member of Berean Seventh-Day Adventist Church, she raised her children, put them through Adventist school, and participated in the church as a deaconess, choir member, Sabbath School teacher, master guide, pathfinder counselor and staff, basketball score manager, etc. She was blessed to have her fourth child, Ruth Selfridge. While working at the Atlanta Post Office, she met and married William Robert Jones. From this union, she was blessed to have her last child, Michael Jones. She later worked at Berean Junior Academy and Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy as a substitute teacher, cafeteria staff, office staff, and wherever she was needed. After raising her children, she became a medical missionary and volunteered at Times of Refreshing. After moving to Tennessee in 2006, Mary remained active as a medical missionary, both domestically and internationally. With a missionary family, and in her 70s, she traveled to Panama to spread the Gospel. She was always ready to go wherever the Lord wanted to send her. She was an advocate for healthy living, Adventist education, medical missional work, youth ministries, literature evangelism, and nursing home ministry. In the summer of 2016, she relocated to Florida to live with her daughter, Ruth. She continued to visit the nursing home, pass out literature, and share the health message and the love of Jesus. On Sunday, December 18, 2022, our beloved mother went to sleep in Christ. We are blessed that God gave her 84 years of service leaving a lasting legacy and precious memories. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, husband, two step-daughters, and nephew. She leaves to cherish her lasting legacy and precious memories her children: Christopher Selfridge, Regina Selfridge Evelyn, Bruce Selfridge, Ruth Selfridge Campbell, and Michael Jones; grandchildren: Phillip Evelyn II, Peter Evelyn, Esther Evelyn, Abigail Evelyn, Jada Jones, Michaela Jones, Samara Selfridge, Rachel Campbell, Nathaniel Campbell, Michael Jones Jr., and Jordyn Jones; great grandchildren: London Evelyn, Kaleb Evelyn, Antwan Sherard Jr., Emerald Evelyn, Aariyanna Sherard, and Peter Evelyn Jr.; siblings: James Selfridge Jr. and Elizabeth Robinson; nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws, step-family, and host of friends and church family.

Mary S. Jones

July 15, 1938 - December 18, 2022