Mary Lee Matthew Jones of Petersburg, VA, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2026. Mary was born on October 27, 1937, to the late Bessie Jackson. Mary Lee, as she was affectionately known, was educated in the Dinwiddie County Public School system and graduated from Southside High School in 1957. She believed in and trusted in God early in life and dedicated her life to Christ, joining Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in DeWitt, VA.

Mary regularly shared fond memories of her childhood spent with her great-grandfather, the late Sydney Bolling, then later in her youth with her grandmother, the late Annie Hudson. In October of 1957, she married the love of her life, Carlin W. Jones. Together, they had three sons. Mary discovered her passion for sewing early in life. She devoted her life to being a seamstress, creating, and mending for her family, friends, and community. Mary channeled her passion into her work life, spending more than 30 years in sewing factories across Central VA.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Carlin W. Jones, and her first son, Alonzo Jones. She leaves to cherish her memory two sons, Clinton A. Jones of McKenny, VA and  Carlin A. Jones of Dinwiddie, VA; six grandchildren, her devoted granddaughter, Paulette L.Jones of Petersburg, VA, Tevin T. Jones of Palm Bay, FL, Montel J. Jones of Port Saint Lucie,FL, Alexis M. Jones of Port Saint Lucie, FL, Contersey T. Jones of Severn, MD, and Kelvin A.Jones of Severn, MD; four great-grandchildren, Eastyn Jones, Giovanni Jones, and Aidan Jones of Palm Bay, FL, and David Jones of Severn, MD; two uncles, Joseph Matthews of DeWitt, VA, and John Matthews of Hopewell, VA; four siblings, Milton E. Jones (Martha-Kay) of Disputanta, VA, John E. Jones (Sallie) of Dinwiddie, VA, Miriam Jackson-Perry (Kevin) of Chesterfield, VA, and Raymond L. Jones (Sandra Pegram) of Petersburg, VA. She also leaves to cherish her memory her former daughter-in-law, Pattie Jones of Severn, MD, with whom she shared a lasting friendship. Additionally, she leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends who loved her dearly and will continue to cherish her memory.

Services will be held 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Big Bethel Baptist Church, 11010 Bolling Road, McKenney, VA, the Rev. Alexander Williams, Pastor and Rev. William H. Roberts, Jr., eulogist. The interment to follow at the church cemetery.

J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com. Watch the funeral services live online on our J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc. Facebook page or click here to view: https://vimeo.com/event/6035178?fl=so&fe=fs