Louise Delores (Tucker) Jones, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, matriarch and friend, was born on March 11, 1944, in Suffolk, to the late Jessie (White) Tucker Allen and James Edward Odom. She was the youngest of three sisters. Her sisters Margaret Arlene (Tucker) Whedbee and Lottie Mae (Tucker) Vaughn preceded her in death.

Louise received her formal education through the Suffolk Public Schools system. She attended Booker T. Washington High School, where she graduated as an honor roll student, receiving numerous full academic scholarships from several universities to further her studies.

Louise also had a passion for science and medicine. With a desire and empathy to help others, she ultimately decided to pursue a career in nursing, rather than performing as an opera singer. Her nursing career expanded more than 40 years.

Louis studied at Old Dominion University, Norfolk. She received an associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College—Annandale in 1982. Ultimately, Louise received a bachelor’s degree in Biblical counseling from Trinity College of the Bible and Trinity Theological Seminary (Newburgh, Ind.) in 2015, and up until the time of her transition was pursuing her master’s degree in Biblical counseling — theology from Trinity College of the Bible and Trinity Theological Seminary (Newburgh, Ind.) as well.

Louise accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young child. Louise offered a lifetime of service to Christ by singing in the choir, as well as being a member of the usher board, intercessory prayer ministry and the nursing ministry. She was a faithful servant of the Lord her entire life.

Louise never neglected her musical gift and consistently displayed her vocal proficiency. Beginning as a child, and throughout her entire life, she joined the choir at every church where she became a member. As a soloist and choir member, she sang for Metropolitan Baptist, Suffolk; First Baptist, Suffolk; Alfred Street Baptist, Alexandria; and Oakland Baptist, Alexandria. Her last church of membership and attendance was From the Heart Church Ministries (formerly Full Gospel AME Zion), where she sang in the choir for more than 25 years.

Louise transitioned on Dec. 7, 2017, and leaves to cherish her life, legacy and memory four children: Jessie L. Jones, Ana’ M. Williams, William O. Jones (Merceditas) and William A. Jones Jr. (Linda); 15 grandchildren: Teresa M. Butler (Donald), Helena L. Williams, Robert W. Williams, Tiffany M. Jones, Malik Jones (Emma), Madinah Hackett, Sumayyah Hackett, Salimah Hackett, Aishah Jones, Fatimah Jones, Zaccheri A. Brown (Jacquelyn), Darius K. Jones, Diamond O. Jones, Noah A. Jones and Christian A. Jones; eight great-grandchildren: Jessica Y. Ricks, Breanna M. Ricks, David H. Ricks III, Arya Williams, Maliyah Jones, Julian Brown, Quran F. Mays Jr. and Kase Jones; nephew: Louis N. Tucker (Ruby); nieces: Marie Vaughn and Carolyn E. Vaughn; and a host of relatives and friends.