Ila Jones

BIOGRAPHY

Ila Jones was born in a log cabin her father built in Cane Creek, near Dahlonega, Georgia, on 21 August 1903. Her parents were John Jones Stargel II (1875–1957) and Georgia Jones (1881–1968).

After completing the ninth grade, Jones began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Cane Creek, Lumpkin County, traveling there each day on a mule. Upon graduating from North Georgia College in 1929 as valedictorian, she continued teaching in Cave Spring. She later married Paul C. Sewell, Sr., a farmer, and went on to teach at the Georgia School for the Deaf and Cedartown High School.

Following Paul Sr.’s passing and her own retirement, Jones moved to Huntsville, Alabama, to be near her sister. There, she joined the faculty of Randolph Academy, teaching until the mandatory retirement age of 70. Even after retiring, she continued to teach physical education at a rural school. During her years in Alabama, she met and married Orville U. Jones. The couple later relocated to Pasadena, Texas, where she worked as a substitute teacher. Upon Orville’s retirement, they moved to their vacation home in Trinity Cove, Texas, where he eventually passed away. Jones remained in Texas for five more years, during which she attended classes at Texas A&M University and became a licensed operator of the community’s sewer treatment facility.

In addition to her passion for gardening, church, and community involvement, Jones cared for the sick, tutored both children and adults, lent toys and books to children on a check-out basis, served as a lifeguard, and organized bingo games at her community center. In her mid-eighties, she moved to San Diego, California, where she lived with her granddaughter and helped care for her great-grandchildren. She later spent two years in Plano, Texas, caring for two step–great-grandsons.

Ila Jones passed away in Rome, Floyd, Georgia, on 10 November 2017, at the age of 114 years, 81 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 13 August 2014. This validation was later recognized by LongeviQuest.

At the time of her passing, she was the second-oldest living person in the United States, after Delphine Gibson.

Upon her passing, Maggie Kidd succeeded her as the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Georgia.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Ila Stargel Sewell Jones, oldest Georgian, passes on” – Rome News-Tribune, 11 November 2017

* Ila Arminda Stargel Sewell Jones – Find A Grave

* Mrs. Ila Stargel Sewell Jones – John House’s Cave Spring Chapel Funeral Home

GALLERY

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