Jones Family Tree
Edgar and Armeta's 7 Children
Willie Edwin Jones
Willie Edwin Jones (Ted) was born in 1903. He was the oldest son and first born of Edgar and Armeta Jones. He attended elementary school in Buckingham, Virginia and completed high school and college at the Virginia Seminary and College in Lynchburg, Virginia. He taught school in Buckingham and was later employed by the United States Postal Service for 31 years. After retiring he returned to Buckingham. He was very proud of his large grape vineyard that produced red and green grapes in the back of the old homestead and his cherished wine cellar under the family home. Ted enjoyed playing cards, pool and croquet. One of his favorite dogs was a collie he named Flash. In 1963, he married Carol Powell. Together they had a new home built on the Jones homestead. He was a faithful member of the Slate River Baptist Church and served as Church Treasurer for many years. He loved family and people and was a man of strong faith.
Ella Irene Jones
Ella Irene Jones Hamlet (Pig) was born June 1, 1909. She was the second eldest child whom her father called my little Piganinnie. This was shortened to Pig and so it was for the remainder of her life. She received her early education in Lynchburg, Virginia while living with her great Uncle Robert and Aunt Gertrude. She also accepted Christ at the age of 11 at the 8th Street Baptist Church. She was awarded an art scholarship from another school, but chose to attend Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (Virginia State College) where her mother Armeta attended. A strikingly beautiful woman, she was one of the first contestants vying for the title of Miss Virginia State in 1929. As a young woman, Irene sent her siblings to school after her mother passed. Her Father asked Pig to “stand by him”. After returning to Buckingham, she later married Arthur Hamlett, a fellow teacher. Together they designed and built a new home.
John Dashwood Jones
John Dashwood Jones (Pal), a kind and generous spirit, was born on November 6th, 1912. Named after his grandfathers, John Gough and Dashwood Jones, his mother called him my little “Pal”, a nickname that stayed with him throughout his life. Pal was educated in a one room schoolhouse in Buckingham, Virginia. He attended Hampton University and later trained as a master carpenter at St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia. Later in life this skill would lend itself to the construction of the Cramton Auditorium at Howard University, building of the presidential viewing stands for President Kennedy’s inauguration, construction of animal houses at the National Zoo and the erection of the new Slate River Baptist Church. He often spoke fondly of his Alma Mater where he played on the football team. As a young man he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC or CC Camp), a part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal Program, designed to alleviate unemployment caused by the Great Depression. He was paid one dollar a day. In 1948, he moved to Washington, DC with his wife Vesta Agee Jones.
Dorothy Beatrice Jones
Dorothy Beatrice Jones Brown better known as “Dot” to everyone was the 4th child of 7 siblings born to Edgar and Armeta Jones. Dot was born March 12, 1915 in Buckingham County Virginia. She spent most of her childhood in Buckingham and attended schools there. Dot fell in love with Sgt. James Madison Brown who was stationed in the CC Camp at Willis Mountain. They would marry in 1940. They had two children, James Edgar Brown (Mickey) and Barbara Delores Brown Christian. Dot and Madison moved to Newport News, Virginia, where they lived for four years. They returned to Buckingham in 1949. Dot was very active in her church, Slate River Baptist Church, where she served as Church Secretary and was a member of the choir, deaconess board, and the missionary society. Dot also taught Sunday school. On most Sundays after church she would always have a large following of people who would come by for meals and good fellowship. She was also active in the community and a member of Club 25, organized by her sister-in-law Carol.
Mabel Roberta Jones
Gertrude Annett Jones
Gertrude Annett Jones Collins (Gert) , the 6th child, was born December 5th 1919. She was named after her great uncle Bob’s wife, Gertrude. She joined the Sate River Baptist Church at a young age. At the age of six, Gert contracted Polio and spent time in an iron lung. The iron lung was a tank respirator used on patients with Polio. After completing her education in Buckingham, Virginia, she moved to New York to live with Aunt Maybeth for 10 years. There she worked in a factory and met and married Herbert. Herbert had come to New York to check on his brother Darmon. Darmon had followed Elaine home one night after he whistled at Elaine and she whistled back. Gertrude and Herb moved to Newport News and lived for two years with Dot and Brown. They also lived in Portsmouth, Boston, Hawaii, Washington, DC and Maryland. While in Hawaii Gert made the local news when a robber with a gun entered her apartment and killed her best friend. For more than 20 years Gert worked as a Customer Service Representative for a large department store, The Hecht Company, now known as Macy’s.
Elaine Audrey Jones
Elaine Audrey Jones White, the 7th and last child of Edgar and Armeta Jones, was born July 21st, 1922. As a young child, she became a member of the Slate River Baptist Church. She attended elementary school in Buckingham and received her secondary education at Buckingham Training School. At St. Paul’s College she majored in Cosmetology and studied English as a minor. In 1940, she moved to New York and lived with Aunt Maybeth and Gert. Frank White who had recently joined the National Guard, stopped by to meet Elaine before reporting to Baltimore. They spent one day together and when Frank’s troop was deployed to Hawaii, Frank and Elaine corresponded by mail for three and a half years. In 1947, Frank returned from the war and purchased a home in Jamaica, New York, before asking Elaine to marry him. They were married on January 25th, 1947. During their marriage, they lived in three additional homes, the last being in Mastic, New York. They would spend 50 years together.
Edward Evin Jones
Edward Evin Jones (Ed) was born on March 15, 1913, to Daisy Jones, a cousin of Edgar Jones. He spent his early years in Cranford, New Jersey before coming to live with Edgar and Armeta in Buckingham, Virginia. Ed became deaf at an early age but learned to read lips and could tell what you were saying even from far away. He joined Slate River Baptist Church where he was a faithful member. He enjoyed being with people and helping others. He had a special friendship with a neighbor named Mary and provided for her and her children. He was a quick learner and worked diligently on the Jones’ farm. Ed lived with Dot and Brown, then Ted and Carol. Later in life, he lived in a trailer behind the Hamlett home, where Aunt Pig looked after him. He an Aunt Pig spent many happy hours together. Always the teacher, it was Aunt Pig who taught Ed how to write his name. After Aunt Pig relocated to Washington, DC, Ed lived with Aunt Gert and Uncle Herb in Maryland, who lovingly cared for him until his passing.
Edgar Jones
Edgar's father and mother were Dashwood Jones born in (1830) and Irene Jones (1836). They had; Qunin (1859), Floyd (1863), Edgar (2-9-1865), Mary (1867), Dashwood (1868), Isabella (1870), William (1872) and Henrietta (18xx). Edgar married Armeta Gough and she began caring for her elderly father John Gough. It is believed that John owned around 800 - 1100 acres. Edgar asked John for some property to build his own homestead. It is not known if John gave or sold Edgar about 260 acres. Edgar and Armeta gave each of their children 37 acres. Irene picked her lot near the Slate River Church. Dot picked land around the homestead house and lived there for many years raising Mickey and Barbara. Ted and Pal picked choice properties and Mabel, Gert and Elaine, who didn't care much sorted out the rest. The house was built on about two acres of property and was evenly shared by all the children.
Dashwood Jones
Born about 1830 married Irene (unknown last name) on unknown date.
Armeta Jones (Gough)
Armeta's father and mother were John Gough born in (1853) and Polly Perkins (1860). They had; Parthenia (18xx), Armeta (1882), John Jr. (1886), Mary Beth (1887), William (1889), Ella (1893) and Sam (1898). Armeta was around 17 years younger when she married Edgar. She had seven children, the youngest being Elaine. Armeta sewed Elaine a dress to wear in a religious play that her daughter Irene had written. Armeta who always suffered from stomach and chest pains walked back to the house to lock up the chickens. She told the store owner Mary Francis to, watch my baby. She returned to watch the play and sat between Edgar and the minister in the audience. During the play Elaine at 10 years old had to say to the woman playing her mother, "please don't let my mother die." At that time, the woman acting fell over dead on stage and Armeta had a heart attack and died in the minister's arms. She died at 51.
John Gough
Born about 1853 married Polly Perkins on unknown date. John had brothers and sisters; Ellen, Lee, Betty, Annie, Ida, Robert, ParaLee, and half-brother William Hemmings.
Polly Gough (Perkins)
Polly had brothers and sisters; Willie, Ella, Gergania, Melinda, Minnie, Bennie, Payton and Andrew