Our loving and devoted mother, sister,&and friend, Juanita Jones of Hinesville, Georgia, earned her wings on November 19,2022at the age of 71. She rejoins her father Elijah "Busta" Jones,motherMaggie Lee Jones, brother Dr. Rev. Jimmie L. Smiley, two brothers-in-law Jimmy Taylor and Wendell Shaw, nieceKesiShaw, and her beloved dog Bones.

Juanita leaves her son Jabari Jones, Stephanie Jones,andgrandchildrenJaniyah, Jordan, and Ava; her sonJamoniJones and Danielle Mowbray-Jones andgranddaughter, Dominique; siblings Patricia Taylor, Brenda Shaw, David Earl (Laverne) Jones, Louise (Joseph) Kelly, James (Rosena) Smiley and David Larry Jones; along with a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends whom she loved.

Nita became a member of First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church at a young age. She then served at Trinity Missionary Baptist Temple as a member of the Usher Board, Head of the Youth Usher Board and Nursery, and the Food Bank Ministry.

In 1970 she graduatedfromLiberty County High School in Midway, Georgia,and attended nursing school but found she had a passion for teaching children and continued training in early childhood education. She dedicated her life's work to caring for babies and toddlers at the Fort Stewart Child Development Center. She loved her co-workers, children, and parents, some of whom became her closest friends. Her lightshinedbrightlyeverywhere shewent,and she knew how to light up a room. We know her legacy will live on through those who learned from and befriended her.

She retired from the Department of the Army as a Federal employee in 2016 and enjoyed talking about Bones, to anyone who would listen and loved spending time with her family any chance she had. You could always find her watching old westerns, anything Steven Seagal or Dirty Dancing whenever it was on.

Nita was a wonderful mother, grandmother, aunt, sister,and friend. She was outgoing and loved to party and dance. She enjoyed crocheting, baking,anddecorating for Christmas. She exuded femininity and loved to dress up in sparkles and sequins, do her make-up, and always had her hair and nails done. She also had a sharp tongue and quick wit. Her favorite thing to say was to "Handle my lightweight!" She was kind-hearted and very selfless as she would give her last to help others. We will all miss her dearly and her legacy will live on through her family.