Helen E. Jones

Helen Elizabeth Searcy Jones was born May 1, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the third of four children born to Josephine and Charles Searcy Sr. (both deceased). Siblings proceeded in death are Marion A. Searcy and Charles A. Searcy Jr. Robert E. (Buster) Searcy is still with us. Helen was called home on Friday, October 5, 2018. Helen was a lively child who enjoyed expressing herself creatively. Her first sewing project set the stage for a lifelong hobby and a pattern of sharing with others. Helen graduated from John Hay High School and six months later married Herman C. Jones. While running a household, Helen was active in the community. She was a member of the Young Mothers Bible Club where she developed a circle of lifelong beautiful and supportive friends. She was involved in the national and local Parent Teachers Association (PTA) at her children's schools. As president of the PTA, she spearheaded many initiatives that brought safety and dignity to the students at the buildings. Helen worked for Cuyahoga County at a Cleveland Municipal School District school part-time a couple evenings; there she taught homemaker skills and sewing classes. These classes were for people trying to complete their high school education. This period was before Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) began. When TRI-C opened, Helen enrolled and achieved an associated degree, she continued her education and graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Art in Sociology. She then attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with a Master of Public Health. All along encouraging others to pursue their education to maximize job opportunities and aid in personal growth, this continued even in the nursing home. Helen began her full-time career as a hospital administrator for the Veteran Administration Hospital. She ended her career working for the Western Reserve Agency of Aging. Helen leaves to celebrate her life her daughters Deborah Jones Newman, Lisa C. Jones and sons, Herman L. Jones (Wren) and Eric C. Jones; grandchildren Michelle R. Newman, Michael B. Newman, Christopher H. Newman, Christine E. Newman; great-grandchildren Lucas Borges, Lainey Newman, Christian Newman and a host of family, brother, sister in law, niece, nephew, cousins and friends who loved her.