Ruth Elizabeth Jones

We celebrate Ruth’s wonderful accomplishments, extensive travels, deep faith, and steadfast commitment to family and friends. These qualities illustrate the remarkable life she lived. Those who knew her well will recall that she opened and closed every phone call with the simple and heartfelt words, “love and appreciate you!”  Ruth’s love, warmth and graciousness persist in her memory.

Born to Monroe and Dorothy Lefeged on August 21, 1939, Ruth Elizabeth Lefeged was the first of seven children. She was responsible for her brother and five sisters, while her parents worked long hours. Ruth graduated from George Washington Carver High School, the county’s only black school during the years of forced segregation. She lived in Montgomery County throughout her life and raised four daughters in the same Scotland community in which she grew up. She set a strong example for her daughters through hard work, brilliant financial management, a loving sense of humor, and a forgiving heart. In September 1990, Ruth married Bill Jones. They have welcomed countless people into their loving home and traveled around the world together.

Victory Christian Church International was Ruth’s spiritual home. She was a faithful member, serving first in the children’s ministry, then in the hospitality ministry. Ruth had a special talent for bringing people together. She also had a “Costco Family”, with many loving employees from the second place she would go each Sunday. Ruth’s three non-negotiable family traditions exemplified her love and commitment: family dinner every Sunday at her house, family vacation every year, and a big birthday celebration for every member of the family.

Ruth’s life work was caring for and teaching young children. She saw the potential in every child, understood how to connect, and brought joy into the classroom every day. She devoted herself to the children of Lynnbrook Child Care Center in Bethesda. Before the end of her 43-year career, the community honored her by dedicating a playground that was renamed the Ruth Randolph Jones Playground. In her leisure, Ruth loved football (Cowboys), basketball (Lakers, Magic Johnson and Lebron), Judge Judy, Steve Harvey (Family Feud), Lifetime movies, and was an avid reader. At all times, Ruth shared her kind, generous, supportive and forgiving nature. One smile from Ruth could always warm your heart.

Ruth was called home on August 3, 2018 in Gaithersburg, MD. Left to celebrate her life are her loving family: husband, William F. Jones; daughters, Sherie Fairfax (husband, Leon), Penny Terrell, Vicky Terrell, and Regina Benjamin (husband, Edouard); sisters Edna Frazier, Barbara Powell (Greg), Dorothy Palmer, Joyce Wilson, Brenda Jones (husband, Curtis); brother Monroe Lefeged Jr (Debbie); sister-at-heart, Mary Helen Dove; grandchildren Antoine Fairfax, Reginald Jones, Isaiah Terrell, Linwood Terrell, Sean Fairfax, Joshua Terrell, Lindsay Terrell, Jasmine Benjamin, Xavier Benjamin, Jordan Fairfax, and Davien Benjamin; great grandchildren Azalia Terrell, Ahlaya Fairfax and Elijah Terrell; and a host of family and friends. We love and appreciate you, Meemom, for who you are and all you’ve done!

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