Juanita Burford Jones, 89, of Jacksonville passed away peacefully, in her own bed, in the wee hours of the morning on Monday, February 5, 2018. She was born in Columbus Georgia on December 16, 1928 to Carl Julius and Lois Bowden Burford. In her own words, she was an "ugly" baby but no one who has known Juanita would agree with that assessment. God and family was most important to Juanita and she was the best daughter, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend that one could be. Juanita, in all aspects, embodied the true meaning of God's love. She met the "true love" of her life, Jack Jones, during her first year of teaching at Wacona in Ware County on the outskirts of Waycross. She was married to James Allen "Jack" Jones for 64 years until his death in 2014. Juanita was a public school educator: teacher, dean of girls, curriculum coordinator, and lastly a guidance counselor for over forty-two years. She was a devoted member of the Murray Hill United Methodist Church since 1954 and was active in the United Methodist Women Organization, the Lillian Churchwell Circle, both the Fidelis and Friendship Sunday School Classes, Meals on Wheels delivery, Visitation of the sick, and the "Unofficial" church's photographer.

Juanita is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Lois Burford, her siblings, Mae Lane and Carl Burford Jr., her husband, Jack Jones, her only son, David Allen Jones, and her eldest daughter, Teresa Jones Chason. She is survived by her youngest daughter and son-in-law, Jacquelyn and Brendon Dillon, Teresa's husband, Nixon Chason, her five grandsons: Michael Jones, Patrick Dillon, James Dillon, Tyler Dillon, and Nicholas Chason and three great- grandchildren: Devin, Darian, and Illyssa.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 729 S. Edgewood Ave. Jax. Fl 32205. Services will be Monday, February 12, 2018, at Murray Hill United Methodist Church, 4101 College Street, Jax 32205, with the family receiving guests beginning at 10:00 am, followed by Funeral Services at 11:00 am. Interment at Riverside Memorial Park, 7242 Normandy Blvd. Jax. FL 32205, immediately following the service. HARDAGE-GIDDENS, EDGEWOOD CHAPEL, 729 S. Edgewood Avenue, is serving the family.