Otelia Octavia Crowder Jones, daughter of the late William Henry and Ida Holloway Crowder, was born Sept. 25, 1918 in Lunenburg County. Otelia was called into eternal rest on Feb. 24, 2018 in Victoria, VA.

Otelia attended Wattsboro School at New Galilee Baptist Church. At an early age, she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined the New Galilee Baptist Church in Kenbridge, VA. Otelia later moved to Baltimore, MD and joined the Brown’s Memorial Baptist Church. While there she served faithfully as a Deaconess, was a member of the Usher’s Ministry, the Missionary Ministry, the Senior Choir, and was one of the Mothers of the Church. She also volunteered in the soup kitchen at the church. After moving back home, Otelia joined the West Hill Baptist Church and attended faithfully until her health began to fail. She was a member of the West Hill Missionary Ministry and the Deaconess Ministry.

Otelia is preceded in death by her parents, William and Ida Crowder; her husband, David Emmitt Jones; two sons, James Raleigh and William Hewitt Jones; her siblings: Eva Garland, Nanny Scott, Margaret Austin, James Crowder and George Crowder; and devoted friend Leslie Bragg.

“T” or “Teely,” as she was affectionately called, was a kind and gentle person and always had a smile on her face. She loved to spend time with her family, and everyone was family to her. She loved the outdoors and she especially loved working in her garden. She enjoyed pampering her cats and all of the stray cats that would come around. She also enjoyed cooking, going on trips, and attending the weekly senior citizen meetings.

Her birthday was a very special occasion and she looked forward to her birthday celebrations spent with family and friends each year. She would proudly tell her age.

She enjoyed life and was always there to brighten the lives of others. As a result of her generous spirit and pleasant personality, she was loved by many. Her Christian life was as beautiful as the flowers that she loved so well, and her influence will forever remain in the lives of all who knew her.

She leaves to cherish her memories her devoted children; sons: David “June” of Victoria, Welcome “Pete” (Patricia) of Washington, DC, and Gary (Agnes) Jones of Kettering, MD; three daughters: Daisy “Jennida” (Judison) Savage of Washington, DC, Eva Lee and Otelia Lee of Victoria, VA; one daughter in law: Dora Jones of Baltimore, MD; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren and adopted grandchildren, one sister in law: Dorothy Cabiness, many, many nieces and nephews and a host of cousins, and special friends.

Funeral services were held Sunday, March 4, 2 p.m. at Peoples Community Center