Paulette Maxine Jones

Paulette Maxine Jones was born on November 16, 1968 in the parish of St. Catherine in Jamaica, where she was adopted by Mable Harrison (deceased).  After completing five years of secondary education in Jamaica, Paulette then moved to New York.  Shortly, thereafter, she enlisted in the United States Navy on July 25, 1988, to become a Hospital Corpsman (HM) and was off to bootcamp.  During bootcamp her biggest fear was not passing her swim test because she could not swim and was terrified of the water.  The reason was due to her witnessing her best friend drown in Jamaica one year prior to joining the Navy.  It was her dream of making the Navy a career, because in doing so it would provide her with job security.  Paulette knew she had no place to go if she was kicked out of bootcamp and could not go back to Jamaica, but she trusted in God to see her through.  So, Paulette jumped from the 13 feet tower into the pool and the frogman helped her back to the top where she was told she had passed.

On July 25, 1998, Paulette separated from the Navy and started her second career as a Credentialing Specialist for the Department of the Navy, Bureau of Navy Medicine, located on board Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida until December 2019 due to medical reasons.  Early on in her military career Paulette gave her life to Christ and continued to do so until she lost her battle to colon and liver cancer.  She battled the disease for almost three years before being called home to be with her heavenly Father. 

She is survived by her husband, Harold W. Jones Jr., two daughters, Vanessa (Peanut) Williams-24 and Gabryel (Buttercup) Williams-21; and two stepchildren, Xavier A. Jones and Octavia A. Jones.  Paulette will be loved forever by those she has touched and left behind:  Father-in-law, Harold W. Jones Sr.; mothers-in-laws, Brenda and JoAnn Jones; a host of sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, two grandchildren, Zirmere and Aniyah Jones; and many more.  She will also be missed by the Williams family of Ludowici, Georgia, her extended family members, church family of Elevate Life Orange Park, and the many friends she touched that we now consider family.

Pearls of wisdom:  Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free, I’m following the path God laid for me.  I took his hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all.  I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work, or play.  Tasks left undone must stay that way, I’ve found that place at the close of day.  If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy.  A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, ah yes, these things, I too, will miss!  Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.  My Life’s been full, I savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.  Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.  Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.  Love Paulette

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. and a memorial service at 5:00 p.m. at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073, (904) 264-1233.

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