Fannie Mae Wilson-Jones Celebrates 100th Birthday
Mrs. Fannie Mae Wilson-Jones was recognized as the oldest member of First Community A.M.E. church this year.
Mrs. Jones is one of three children born to Hano and Carrie Williams of Columbia Missouri on April 21, 1919.
After graduating from high school in Columbia, she married William Wilson and the couple had their first daughter.
The couple then migrated to Grand Rapids, Michigan where they settled in and continued growing their family.
Mrs. Jones joined First Community African Methodist Episcopal Church on James Street and faithfully served on several committees and also sang in the choir.
Fannie remarried in 1979 to Arthur Jones. After his passing, she retired from the Board of Education and started working as a senior companion until she was eighty - five years old.
She is not able to attend church services as her memory is not what it used to be; but if you start singing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow", she lights up and smiles.
Mrs. Jones is the mother of eight children, (7 girls, 1 boy) and she has twenty - one grand children and twenty great - grand children.
She brought all her children to church with her. I remember as a child seeing at least a dozen freshly ironed dresses hanging on a clothes line in the basement, where she would have all of us prepared for church and school for the week.
Our mother was what they now call a parachute parent.
She wasn't real hands on, but she had good intuition. Some of her rules were: do your chores; be a good student; respect your elders; help the senior neighbors by running errands for them and checking to make sure if they needed help with chores or snow removed — just do it.
Fannie Mae was a celebrated cook. Everyone raved about her cooking and when she made her famous dinner rolls, people would call from all over town to buy a dozen.
Her sister was a famous beautician in Chicago, so we learned some of her natural remedies. We all learned how to sew, and always had a sewing machine to whip up an outfit in a day. She taught us the importance of taking care of our bodies and we didn't know how fast food tasted until we were old enough to buy it ourselves.
The Following Are Comments From Each One Of Her Children:
Carol
Happy 100th Birthday Mama Mae! You taught us by your example how to love ourselves, our families and how to provide for our well-being. Thank you! I pray that God will grant us the fullness and enjoyment of life with which you have been so abundantly and richly blessed. I love you mother, Your first-born, Carol
Ann
I'm celebrating the 100th birthday of an exceptional woman – my mother — a fine-looking woman with flawless skin and a wonderful smell; a woman that has a great smile, a warm demeanor, open heart and hands to always help in any way she can. My mother worked until eighty-five years of age and still had the time to love her church. She has given her life to care for those she loves. I love you mother, Happy 100th birthday. Your daughter, Ann
Joyce
Our beautiful sister Joyce was called to meet our Lord on January 25th, 2019. I'm sure if Joyce were with us, she would acknowledge our mother in her own words. I'm sure that she would mention that she was the one that physically resembled our mother the most. Joyce and mom shopped together; and on any Sunday after church, Joyce was the one sitting in the kitchen with her as she cooked one of her massive meals. Joyce and mom were a pair of look alikes; I'm confident that Joyce is smiling and wishing mom a heartfelt happy 100th birthday wish, from heaven.
Larry
Dear mother, thank you for all the love and care you gave me. Only God knows how you were able to raise all of us, cook, clean and work a full-time job. Happy Birthday Mother, I love you 100 times.
Laura (Mickey)
Our mother is the kind of mother that all women dream of being. The one with the family, the home and the career. She could cook like a five - star chef, keep her home and garden like Martha Stewart before she was famous for it. She dressed like a star and carried herself like a queen. My mother set some examples. She is such a proud and beautiful lady, with a quiet soul. She loved all of us and kept us polished with strong character and morals, by example. Happy 100th Birthday mom, you are precious in my sight.
Janice
Dear mom, you were a provider, a listener and a huge help for me and my children. Thank you for teaching me, loving me and holding me close to you when I needed it. Thank you for my sisters, my brother and the love everyone felt when you were near. What a sweet mother you are. There is an ongoing bonfire of love for you in my heart, forever. Happy 100th birthday mom. With Love always, Janice
Kimberly
I love my mother very much and she loves me. She has always praised God and still does. She always amazed me with how she got things done and managed to have dinner ready every day at the same time. She was kind to people and made us understand that you should treat others the way you would like to be treated. She was very active in politics and was a prominent member of First Community AME Church. She always praised good qualities and discouraged bad habits. She is my mom, my friend and teacher. My mother is the matriarch of our family and I love and respect her forever. Happy 100th birthday, Mother
Phyllis
Thank you, God, for being divine perfection. My mother and I are a match that you made in Heaven. There are so many special things about my mother; she has always been highly favored. My mother will be 100 years old on Easter, the day Jesus rose, that is enormous, and therefore I know she is something special. It is unexplainable when I see or think of you, the happiness that I feel. I love you beautiful woman. Happy Easter and Happy Birthday, Mama.
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