Ray Jones

Ray Shell Jones, 96 of Elgin, Texas passed away Monday April 20, 2020.  His casket will lie in state at the Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Friday, May 1st from 12:00 PM until 6:00 PM. A private Home-Going Celebration will be conducted graveside at the Littig Cemetery on Saturday, May 2nd with the Reverend, Steven Ward, Pastor presiding.

Precious Lord take my hand….

Mr. Ray Shell was born on April 30, 1923 to Monroe Jones, Sr. and Willie Mae (Perkins) Jones in Coupland, Texas. He attended the local public schools in Coupland and in the community of Lund.  As a young man, Mr. Jones ventured into many things, but he never took his eyes off of God.  He was a strong black man that believed and trust in the Lord, holding on to his words: “the Good Lord Got Me”.

Around 1951, Ray Shell was united in Holy Matrimony to Ray Bell Perkins and this union was blessed with six children.  The couple was very close and shared many dreams and plans, never having a dull moment as their family grew.

Mr. Jones worked for Marvin Lundgren for many years as a farmer, then at David Fenske Service Station before stepping out on faith – to start has own business.  He had a Personal Lawn Service, which he was the owner and worker until his health begin to fail. Mr. Jones was a man of many talents, such as maintaining a vegetable garden and proving fresh fruits to the community. He had an auto part store or such as it maybe – back in the day – one would come to him and get any car part for their vehicle, old or up to date. Ray Shell enjoyed playing dominoes, fishing, hunting and a good pool tournament. He was the ‘go to guy’ for a small cash loan… always having a dollar or two for the grandchildren.  Ray Shell loved his family, enjoyed family time with a cold Pepsi or a hot cup of coffee while watching the westerns shows.  His special time of the day was when he sat down and his wife would listen to his dreams of yester years while have a chew of Redman tobacco.

Mr. Jones led an active and fulfilling life for this legacy he established is endless. This occasion has caused many hearts to bleed and many eyes to water because of having to bid “adieu” to a strong Black man who was called to rest from labor on April 20th.  Ray Shell is preceded in death by his parents, one son, Clifton, granddaughter, Shantrell Mayberry, two sisters, Erma Bradford and Gillie Mae McDonald and two brother, Johnny Jones, Sr. and Monroe Jones, Jr. and a longtime friend, Earl Joiner.

After seeing four generations, Mr. Ray Shell Jones lived a thankful enriched life and his legacy and labor of love will be long remembered by his loving and devoted wife of sixty-eight years, Ray Bell Jones, children, Charles Jones, Iree Jones, Betty Mayberry, Sherman Jones, and Sharon Mays and a special daughter, Dorothy E. Thomas; his grandchildren, Isaac Ray Dove (Erika), Charles Anthony Jones, Bobby Lee Jones, Charlotte Jones (Tyrone), April Jones (Scott), Latosha Jones, Sparkles Sauls, Wendy Taylor (Getty), Reagus Harvey (Crystal), Shonda Murphy (Murph), Casandra Jones, Tirka Mathis (Kirk), Corey Jones, Shanta Harvey Mays, Sharesa Harvey Mays, Ladarren Bunton Mays, Ladasreon Bunton Mays (Poo-Poo) and Vincent Jones, thirty-seven great grandchildren, and a host of very special nieces and nephews covering four generations of other relatives and friends.