Madie Bennett Jones

Madie Lee Bennett Jones was born in Morven, NC on November 12, 1925. She was the daughter of the late Rev. Leroy (LR) Bennett and Ida Clemons Bennett. Because her father was an itinerant A.M.E. Zion minister, Madie received her primary and secondary education throughout North Carolina. However, she graduated from Washington High School in Raleigh, NC. She served as the class secretary. Madie attended Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC. She was a member of the Livingstone Octet. She majored in English and Psychology, graduating in 1948. After college, Madie married Fred Small. From this union there were two children, Vondra and Fred. Since her husband was in the Air Force. She lived in several cities in the United States. In 1956, she moved to Columbus, OH because her husband was stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base (Rickenbacker). Madie decided to stay in Columbus to raise her family. She became a social worker with the Franklin County Welfare Department. Madie worked there for several years, before moving to the State of Ohio Welfare Department. She retired in 1984. Madie had been a member of Zion all of her life. When she moved to Columbus, she joined Caldwell Temple A.M.E. Zion Church which later became First A.M.E. Zion. Madie was an active member of First Church. She was a Life Member, a Missionary, served on the Supply Department and the Deaconess Board. In 1978, Madie married her "Soulmate", Edward R. Jones, better known as Tiger. Madie and Tiger traveled throughout the United States and Canada in their RV. They loved camping and Madie learned to enjoy fishing. In 2012, Madie moved to Phoenix, AZ to live with her son. There, she joined Fisher Temple A.M.E. Zion Church. She served on the Deaconess Board and was later honored as. the "Mother to the Church". She moved back to Columbus in 2019. Madie is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward R. Jones (Tiger); and brother, George Bennett. She leaves to cherish precious memories her children Vondra (Donald) White and Fred (Cornelia) Thomas; grandchildren Cassandra Dearman, Donald White, Jr., and Stephen White; great grandchildren Lyric Harris, Justice Jones, Imani Turner, Ianna Turner; great great-granddaughter Xo'Elle Jones; special family members and loving friends, Mary Bennett, Frances Daniels, Glenelle Stokes, Colleen McMurray, Julia Fleming and Olivia Tucker.