Edna Florence Jones Washington

Mrs. Washington was born December 27, 1928 to Johnnie and Ethelene Jones in Texarkana, Texas. She was the fifth of seven sisters: Lilly Bell, Marie, Carrie, Louise, Modean, and Carol Jean. Mrs. Washington attended Dunbar High School in Texarkana with a nursing major. She was a dedicated, supportive daughter to her sharecropper father Johnnie H. Jones. In 1946, she joined the great migration to California where she met and married a handsome Marine chaplain by the name of Fred E. Washington, March 15, 1947. From their union, there were six children: Fred Jr., Johnnie, Joyce (deceased), Phillip (deceased), Ruth E., and Tim.

Mrs. Washington worked in several fields as a seamstress, domestic service worker, and cafeteria aide for the Los Angeles Unified School District, but ultimately she was the consummate health care provider to whomever in her vicinity was in need. ‘Stranger’ was not a word in her vocabulary, especially when it came to children. Although, under the guidance and mentorship of Big Mama and Mother, she was not successful in culminating from a recognized nursing program which her father expected her to complete, in substitution she attentatively oversaw the college education of her six children and grandchildren, four of whom earned advanced college degrees.

Forever the dedicated wife of a minister, Mrs. Washington had a number of pleasurable family based pursuits: reunions, get-togethers, high-school reunions, holiday celebrations, baby showers, weddings, anniversaries, turnaround bus trips to Las Vegas, and even funerals were important to her. Whenever there was a family oriented gathering, expect Mrs. Washington to be in attendance participating.

Forever possessed with a focus to champion the cause of the needy and the under-dog in society, unfortunately Mrs. Washington was forced to restrict her involvement during the course of her golden years due to declining health. Up until the time of her incapacitation and homebound inactivity, she maintained her self-less, God-fearing dedication to family, neighbors, those in need and others. On the morning of Monday, August 8th after having a comforting bath and breakfast, while reclining in her custom Lazy-boy chair in the company of her dedicated caregiver Adriana, Mrs. Washington peacefully succumbed.

Mrs. Washington leaves behind her in mourning, four sisters: Carrie, Louise, Modean, and Carol; brother-in-law, Jonathan and wife Pansy; four children: Fred Jr., Johnnie, Ruth E. & husband Ken and Tim; among grandchildren: Manuel, Anthony, Kevin, Teasha, Damani, Shone, Jamal, LaZerre, Nisha, Jermaine, Queray, Tueray, Kawanis and Kenneth along with a host of great grandchildren, great-great grand children, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, a host of friends, neighbors, and fellow worshippers. Besides neighbors, special appreciation, recognition, and acknowledgment for her dedication and oversight is extended to 2nd Baptist Usher, Grace Lewis.