Missy Jones

My cousin, Melissa Ellen "Missy" Jones, died at age 61 on September 5 in Virginia Beach. Although she had not been well, her passing was still a shock. Tragically, both of her siblings, Patsy and Cynthia, had died of unrelated causes as young adults, early in their married lives. Missy was the middle child and was unmarried. She left behind her nephew, Mundy Hackett, Patsy's son, a wildlife biologist and a good man; and her mother, Lucy, my mother's youngest sister and as fine a person as I have ever known. While I can only wonder at Lucy's emotional balance, wisdom that enables her to find the good in life, strength of character, consideration of others, complete lack of self centeredness, delightful personality, and general good nature, she exemplifies these virtues and more in the eyes of all who know her.

I have always felt particularly close to the Jones branch of my family, and it was hard for me to accept that I was too ill to travel to Virginia Beach for Missy's Episcopal Church funeral service. No matter how difficult the circumstance, Missy had always made me feel especially welcome. My brother, Bill, was able to attend. Lucy sent me the program from the service. The closing prayer reads:

                                  O Lord, support us all the day long until

                                    the shadows lengthen and the evening

                                    comes, and the busy world is hushed,

                                  and the fever of life is over and our work

                                     is done. Then in Thy mercy grant us a 

                                     safe lodging and a Holy Rest and peace

                                  at the last through Jesus Christ our Lord,

                                                                 Amen.

                                                         In Memoriam

                                                    3/15/48  --  9/5/09