Mary McElrath-Jones

Mrs. Mary "Richie" McElrath-Jones transitioned from her earthly labor to glorious rest on Monday, August 13, 2018. Mary believed in the power of family, friends and faith. A native of Hempstead, NY she graduated from Hempstead High School and matriculated to American University in Washington, DC. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1980 with a degree in Industrial Management. She also received a master of Business Administration degree from Fordham University in New York City.

Mary has always been an active participant in her professional and personal communities. As a member of the Black MBAs she met and married Mr. Larry Jones. The couple have two wonderful children, Mr. Khalil Jones, who works with the Princeton University Football Team in New Jersey and Ms. Surya Jones, a senior at the University of California, Davis. These children are the pride and joy of Mary and her legacy of accomplishments and service live on through each of them.

The consummate professional, Mary was tailor made for corporate America. She began working at the Equitable Life Insurance after college, moving through the ranks from Human Relations to Communications to Public Relations. Most recently she worked as the Director of Regional Communications (New York & New England) for United HealthCare Inc. While many verbalize good intentions for helping future generations, Mary actualized her work. She was an active participant in the Junior Achievement Program to expose students to corporate opportunities. While working with this program, she envisioned and founded the College Awareness Symbolizes Hope (C.A.S.H.) Program in 1992. For more than 20 years, this program, in partnership with corporate and fraternity sponsors, married the concepts of economic, financial and social advantages of graduating from high school and continuing onto college.

From her days as on Opeyo Dancer at UNC Chapel Hill, to her devout commitment to Alvin Ailey dance classes around New York City to her membership on the Board of Directors of Jubiliations! Dance Company and most recently leading the fundraising gala for the Chicago-based Deeply Rooted Dance Company, she was a passionate advocate for the arts, especially dance. Equally as strong is her commitment to youth evidenced by membership on the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Jesuit Prep School. Anyone that knew her can recall her stories about her "beautiful babies" at Grace Baptist Church Sunday School.

Her husband Larry Jones and devoted grandmother Mary Felton preceded her in death. She leaves to celebrate and honor her memories her children Khalil and Surya; her mother, Natheley McElrath; her sisters for life, Karen John, Rosalind Fuse-Hall, Lorna Johnson, Donna Boykins; a host of cherished friends, including Ms. Tina Ngala as well as uncles, aunts, cousins, professional colleagues and friends.