Constance Magdaline 'Connie' (Neal) Blackmon

Constance Magdaline was born on the 5th day of June in the year 1928 to parents Herling and Zelma Neal in Columbus, Ohio. She was the oldest of the children which included her brothers, Bill, Richard and Donald Donnie. After graduating from Central High School, Constance married and God blessed that union with five sons to include Wesley Jones, III, Ronald Herling Jones, Michael Douglas Jones, and twins David Eric Jones and Darrell Leon Jones. Constance’s work career included: Mills Restaurant, downtown Columbus (during her time of employment black people were not allowed to eat there), Lazarus Department Store, Kroger Bakery and Columbus City Schools, where she worked as a school bus driver until her retirement. She loved her family and enjoyed many family dinners, cooking with her mother and aunts. At times, the scenes were similar to the movie, Soul Food. There was a lot of food, family and music which helped to create wonderful childhood memories for her children to share with generations to come. Constance shared her life with Willie Blackmon, her husband of 21 years beginning in 1982. Together, they enjoyed the pleasures of being part of an even larger family of nine children. This union gave Constance four more children - her stepson, Kent, and stepdaughters, Wanda, Wendy and Karen. On Saturday, July 29, 2017, at the age of 89, Constance Magdaline Neal Blackmon departed this life while at St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville, Ohio. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Willie, firstborn son Wesley Jones, IV, stepdaughter Karen, and brother Donnie. She leaves behind to cherish her memory, sons, Ronald (Shirley) Jones of Indianapolis, IN; Michael (Paula), David, and Darrell (Valerie); stepson Kent; stepdaughters, Wanda and Wendy; six grandchildren, Jaye of Texas, David of Texas (Wesley's son), Amber, David E. Jones, Jr. of Columbus, Tiffany, and Brittany; five great grandchildren; brothers, Bill and Richard Neal; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family, and friends.