Ollie Harrell Jones

Author Unknown
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996

Mommy, Mother, Grandma, Aunt Ollie

Eighty-nine years ago, September 10, 1906, a great woman was born in a humble Christian home near Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, to Moses Leroy Harrell and Martha Ida Gray. Ollie was the youngest of eight children—five girls and three boys —all of whom preceded her in death: Martha Elizabeth, Tom, George, Leona, Stella, Merritt, Sarah, and Ollie.

November 5, 1924, Ollie married Uriah Clevis Jones, who preceded her in death in 1988. Ollie and Uriah were blessed with eight children, also - five girls and three boys (the same as her family) :

• Wilma Witherspoon of Springfield, Mildred Carroll of Springfield,
• Floyd Jones of Halfway, Bonnie Sanders of Springfield,
• Bess Stiles (who preceded her mother in death in 1994),
• Edna Munger of Cary, North Carolina,
• Joel Jones of Halfway, and
• Jerry Jones of Ladonia, Texas.

If there were one scripture in the Bible to describe Grandma, everyone would agree that it is Philippians 4:11, penned by Paul: "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." After Grandpa’s death, Grandma moved from house to house, state to state, and never complained. If you asked her if she was ready to eat, "Just anytime," or what you wanted to eat? "Just anything."

But for most of her life she knew exactly what she and her family were going to eat every morning until Grandpa’s death, because every morning (and I emphasize every - no going out for an Egg McMuffin) she cooked eggs, homemade biscuits, gravy, sausage or bacon, and oatmeal. The eggs came from her own laying hens, the milk from their own cow, and butter that she churned and molded herself. On top of all that, the hot buttered biscuits were topped with strawberry jam from their beautiful crop of strawberries, which she prepared and canned herself. Then clean-up for lunch - pork chops from their own butchered hog, fresh milk, green beans, new potatoes, and sweet corn from their exceedingly productive garden - and then for dessert - fresh strawberries and cake. At the same time, Grandma was heating up the kitchen with a canner full of vegetables and fruit for the winter - not only for her family, but for anyone else in need and for her children’s families. And notwithstanding her busy schedule, one would never fail to see her open her Bible for daily study.

You remember earlier I mentioned how agreeable a Christian woman Grandma was. There was absolutely one thing she knew she was going to do, and not the devil himself could have kept her away - she was going to keep her appointment with her Lord and Master come Sunday morning (as well as Sunday night and Wednesday night). No one ever asked, "Are we going to worship today?" It was unequivocally not up for discussion. She would be there to keep her appointment with the Savior just as she kept it Monday afternoon at one o’clock, January 29, 1996, when she passed safely over in His arms beyond this sunset to abide with Him forever.

No, this woman may not be great and famous as some count greatness, not being as some say, "a career woman"; yet she is of the greatest. This woman never attended the great schools and colleges of our land; yet her knowledge was vast, having learned from her parents and grandparents the great principles of honesty, humbleness, virtue, love, and faithfulness, which make a great Christian character.

This woman never attended schools of nursing in our land, and no schools or hospitals bear her name today; yet through her experience, she gained knowledge of how to relieve her children’s pain as they suffered through all the childhood diseases and sicknesses, as she nursed them back to health through her loving care and prayers. Her pay was small, but she was well paid with a sick child's smile and the satisfaction of knowing she had done her best to relieve human suffering in obedience to Christian principles.

This woman was not a prominent school teacher in the schools of our country, nor in the church Bible school; yet through her private teaching and great example of Christian living, many have learned the way of life more perfectly, especially her children, who are all faithful Christians.

She never spent eight hours five days a week punching computer keyboards; yet she spent many hours crocheting, knitting, and quilting beautiful clothing, caps, gloves, house shoes, sweaters, Afghans, and quilts so her family would be warm.

This woman had no desire to be great and famous in the eyes of the world, but always remembered the statement of her Master when He said, "He who would be great let him render the greatest service,” and with this thought in mind has served her neighbors, her family, her church, and her Maker, faithfully for eighty-nine years and enjoyed the satisfaction of a great life.

September 10, 1906 nor January 29, 1996 are written in red on our calendars, but in the minds of her eight children, 27 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren, many friends, relatives, and acquaintances and all who knew this woman, these dates are stamped deeply, never to be forgotten as the dates one of the greatest women on earth was born and the day she departed this life to live with her Maker eternally in a home He has prepared for her in heaven.