Billie Braxton Jones

Billie Braxton Jones, 96, passed away in the evening hours of Thursday, April 11, 2024.

She was born in Durham County on April 9, 1928, the daughter of the late James Monroe Braxton and Hallie Fowler Braxton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Earl Jones; and by her sisters, Mary Elizabeth Adcock and Sybil Braxton; her brother, Janes M. Braxton, Jr.; her niece Margaret Jones Barbee and her husband Walter Barbee, and her niece-in-law Gail J. Jones.

Billie was brought up in Durham, NC. She attended the Durham Public Schools and graduated from Durham High School in 1946. She met her future husband Edward Earl Jones while growing up. Earl served in WWII, was wounded in France and finally discharged in 1946, he then went to college on the GI Bill. After he finished college and got employed he asked Billie to be his wife. She accepted and they were married in Grace Baptist Church in 1949. Billie and Earl were made for each other and enjoyed each other's company for their entire marriage.

Billie was a caregiver just about all her life. She looked after her sister Sybil while growing up and after she and Earl married Sybil lived with them for a while before she eventually passed away. Billie cared for her mother when she reached an advanced age and then cared for Earl when he was diagnosed with dementia late in life. Billie always cared about others and spent many years while in Pensacola volunteering at Baptist Hospital.

Earl was employed by the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau and Billie and Earl lived in Raleigh for a few years, and then moved to Silsbee, TX, where Earl was sent by the company. After a few years in Silsbee they again moved, this time to New Orleans La. where Earl was promoted to one of the company officers of SPIB. They lived in New Orleans for a good number of years and then moved to Pensacola, FL and they remained there for over 40 years. Billie made close friends everywhere they lived and was much loved and respected by all who knew her in all of their various locations.

In Pensacola, Billie and Earl became very close to their backdoor neighbors, the Roe's. Earl and Barbara Roe became their fast friends and the Roe's daughters thought Billie was their aunt. They loved Billie and Earl as if they were part of their family and Billie and Earl felt the same about the Roe’s. Billie also had a very close circle of friends whom she loved very much, in particular, Julie Norvell, Margie Woody, Jan Coleman, and Julia's sister Dutch Thurman. She thought a great deal of each of them and they felt the same about her.

Billie was an avid artist and one of her prize winning pieces was exhibited in the Florida Statehouse in Tallahassee. She enjoyed cooking, traveling, volunteering, and doting on her many dogs over the years. She was a woman of deep and abiding faith and was an active member of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.

After Earl passed away she decided to return to North Carolina and took up residence in Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community in Raleigh, NC where she was residing at the time of her death.

Billie is survived by her nieces and nephews, Kevin M. Adcock, Karen Adcock Sherrill, Elizabeth Braxton Jones, Michael Scott Braxton, Vernon W. Jones, William C. Jones, Jr, Carol Jones Sasser, and Martha Jones, along with a host of extended family and friends.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00PM on Friday April 26, 2024 in the Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, with Rev. Lori Higgins, her chaplain at Springmoor, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Billie's memory to Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or to Springmoor Life Care Retirement community, 1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh, NC 27615.

Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com