Elaine Jones

Elaine Jones was born on August 9, 1936 in Oxford, North Carolina to the late Annie E. Hargrove and John P. Hargrove. She departed this life in the early morning of Friday, October 18, 2024. Elaine was the 7th of 14 children. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Corinthia Mitchell, Ernest Hargrove, Virginia Williams, John Herbert Hargrove, Enoch Hargrove, Andrew Hargrove, Merilyn Peace and Juanita Edwards. She was also preceded in death by her two sons: Pastor Howard Long, Sherman Dale Long and grandson, Justin D. Berryhill.

Elaine graduated from Mary Potter High School in Oxford, NC. in 1953. Elaine relocated to Dayton, Ohio where she attended college and began her career at Good Samaritan Hospital as a nurse’s aide in Pediatrics. Elaine eventually elevated her career and became certified as a Sterile Processing Technician. After many years of service at Good Samaritan, Elaine retired, honorably, at the age of 65, from the same hospital where she started her career serving in the medical field.

Elaine married in her twenties to a fella by the name of Rev. Leamon Long, becoming the first lady to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, in Dayton, Ohio. To that union three children were born: Sherman Dale Long (deceased), Howard Long (deceased) and Carol Arlene Terry. Elaine was a fire cracker who spoke her mind and wasn’t easily intimidated. She simply would not back down from a challenge. She was witty, charming, and most of all, quite hilarious! Some of her favorite sayings were: “If I had what you had, I’d throw mine in.” “Oh big Rob!” “I used to put diapers on you” even to people she just met, “Ok Carol Arlaaaaane“ “Ms. America!” When she was hungry it was “I want some meat and bread!” “Coffee! Coffee! Coffee! “ as she taps the table, “When is the food coming? next week!?” At the same time, she was compassionate and extended herself to care for others in need. She faithfully visited the sick in hospitals and nursing homes and visited the shut-ins at home. Elaine was dependable, independent, dedicated, and persistent in all her endeavors.

Elaine was baptized in Jesus’ Name and received the Holy Ghost during her seasoned years of life. She was a faithful member of the Nurses Guild at Bethesda Temple, in Dayton, Ohio, under the leadership of the late Bishop J. Thomas Jones. She then moved her membership to the House of Prayer under the leadership of her late son Pastor Howard Long. Due to her age and loss of ability to live alone, she moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2017 to live with her daughter Carol Terry. Elaine leaves to cherish her memory to her daughter, Carol Terry, grandchildren Robert L. Berryhill, Sherrita E. Allen, Jessica G. Terry and Aaron M. (Ayanna)Terry. Great grandchildren: Elysia G. Terry, Ariel J. Terry, Ramya Lucas, Jada Lucas, Eva Lucas and Lydia Lucas. Sisters: Marie Hawley, Isabella Hargrove-Wilson, Francine Rawlings. Brother: Calvin (Doris)Hargrove, and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and two brothers-in-law: Caron Edwards of Dayton, Ohio and Charles Cooper of Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Elaine will be missed by those who loved her best, but we know that God always has the better plan.