REEDVILLE—Eleanor Headley Jones, 94, of Reedville passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 16.
Eleanor was the beloved wife of the late Benjamin Paul Jones Sr. and a devoted mother to Donna Winfree (Tom), Jane Williams (Gil) and Benjamin Paul Jones Jr. (Peggy).
She is survived by three grandchildren, Benjamin Jones III (Christina), Thomas Winfree Jr. and April Sullivan (Wade); five great-grandchildren, Autumn, Allison, Tinsley, Ella and Benjamin IV.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her grandson, Andrew Paul Winfree.
Among those she held dear was Elvis Rich, a devoted friend to her and the family, valued for his kindness, loyalty and thoughtful presence in their lives.
Eleanor loved being part of her community and staying engaged in activities that mattered to her. She was a member of the Woman’s Club of Northumberland County and she was a longtime member of Heathsville United Methodist Church, where she generously shared her time, her energy, and, of course, her “famous” potato salad and hot milk cake at countless fundraisers and gatherings.
She had a deep appreciation for history and was a volunteer at Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern and a member of the Northumberland County Historical Society, always eager to learn and honor local heritage.
Eleanor’s love of history became a central part of her life through her work at Stratford Hall, where she spent more than 35 years as a proud docent. She especially enjoyed meeting with school groups and had a gift for making the past come alive for children. She took great pride in being the first to greet visitors and guide them through the Robert E. Lee birthplace. Because it brought her so much happiness, she continued working at Stratford Hall until she was 87.
Eleanor grew up in Cowart on the Coan River with her six siblings, and those early days remained dear to her throughout her life. She loved the water and especially enjoyed soft crabbing. On a good day, she would come home with a big smile after filling her skiff.
She had a natural talent for gardening and took great pride in the beautiful flowers that filled both her yard and her home. Whether tending her garden, going on vacation with her children, or enjoying a good shopping spree, she found joy in life’s simple pleasures.
Eleanor carried herself with an easy grace and always took great pride in looking her best, from her neatly pressed dresses and oxford shoes as a girl, to her polished, elegant style throughout her life. But more than anything, people will remember her for her kindness, her gentle spirit, and the welcoming smile she shared so freely with everyone she met.
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the cherished staff of Commonwealth Senior Living at Farnham whose humor, kindness and devoted care brought daily laughter to Eleanor and earned her heartfelt love, and to the chefs, whose specially prepared meals provided nourishment when she could no longer enjoy the regular diet.
The family is also deeply grateful to Hospice of Virginia, especially Chaplain Terri Palmer and Julia Dunaway, whose compassion and devoted care brought comfort and peace to Eleanor.
Services for Eleanor will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of Virginia, 1328 Tappahannock Boulevard, Tappahannock, VA 22560; Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 656, Burgess, VA 22432; and Northumberland County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1, Reedville, VA 22539.
Welch Funeral Home of Warsaw handled the arrangements.
