Brenda Shirley Jones

Brenda Shirley Jones, born on December 27, 1940, in Chesterfield County, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at approximately 4:45 pm, as God, in His infinite wisdom, called her weary soul to rest. She is preceded in death by her late parents James Henry Coles, Jr. and Josephine K. Clarke Coles and her four beloved brothers Melvin William Coles, Sr., Robert “Tommy” Thomas Coles, Barbare “Bobby” Kenneth Coles, Sr., and Junious “Tippy” C. Coles.

Brenda was educated in the Chesterfield County Public School System where she attended Carver High School and was a proud member of the 1959 graduating class.

On November 24, 1960, Brenda was united in holy matrimony to Mr. Nathaniel Jones, Sr., a union ordained by God that lasted 64 years. They were blessed with one son Nathaniel, Jr. and three daughters, Rhonda, Robbin, and Rolanda.

Brenda accepted Christ as her personal savior early in life and was very active in her service to God. She had been a member of First Baptist Church Centralia for over 50 years, where she was a faithful and active member, sharing her time and talent as an usher with the Bertha Whitlow Ministry and serving as an integral member of the church’s Food Services and Hospitality ministry, proudly preparing and serving food for countless church functions. She also cared for children and prepared meals as an employee of the First Baptist Church Preschool Academy. Later in life she joined Amazing Grace World Fellowship church as an active member until her health declined.

Over the years Brenda worked at Reynolds Metal Company, M&Q Plastics, and was a childcare provider at Children’s World Learning Center. But her passion was serving people and cooking. This passion manifested itself through a family catering company (“J’s Designer Caterers”) established in 1998 and was owned by herself and her brother Tommy.

Brenda also had a love of gospel music. So much so that she started and managed a small choir, the J.D. Gospel Singers, that comprised of her own children and several other children in the neighborhood. The choir sang throughout Chesterfield and Richmond.

Brenda was a wonderful wife and mother but most of all she was an exceptional grandmother. Affectionately known to her grandchildren as “Gamby,” she was a loving grandma that loved and cared for each of her grandchildren deeply. Even in her failing health she was determined to be present in all our lives and wasn’t going to be left out of the fun! She attended all family functions – pool parties, spades and dominos games, Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday theme parties, birthday celebrations, and anything else the family had going on.

Left to cherish her memory, and her beautiful spirit forever are her loving husband, Nathaniel Jones, Sr.; her devoted son, Nathaniel Jones Jr.; her caring daughters, Rhonda L. Jones, Robbin Jones Stewart, and Shirley Rolanda Jones Bishop; Daughter-in-law Crystal Bagby Jones; Son-in-law Vincent L. Stewart; Grandchildren Jessica Jones McBride (Ryan V. McBride), Phillip A. Banks, Davon C. Jones, Lelia Jones Tucker (Ramone Tucker), Todd V. Stewart, Ciara N. Jones, and Raven D. Dunn; Great Grandchildren Peyton R. McBride, Camryn G. McBride, Ashtyn J. McBride, Tristan J. Meanor, Maxwell D. Tucker, and Jebediah R. Tucker; Brothers-in-law Henry L. Jones, Gilbert T. Jones and Richard L. Jones; Sisters-in-law Barbara A. Jones, Helene Lovell, and Janie Coles; Nieces Patricia Jefferson, Robin Davis, Dana J. Coles, and Candice Gault; Nephews Melvin W. Coles, Jr., Junious Coles, Jr., Vince Coles, Glen Coles, Barbare Coles, Jr., and Jason Coles; and a host of devoted cousins, other relatives and friends.