MARY LEONARA WILLIAMS JONES, daughter of Vernion Tallmadge Williams and Nettie Brewington Williams, was born in St. Pauls, North Carlina, on May 25, 1923. She departed this life on May 3, 2008 after a lengthy illness. At an early age, Mary Leonora accepted our Lord, Jesus Christ , as her personal Savior. When she and her family moved to Baltimore, she became very active as a choir member and director at the First Baptist Church of Maryland, where her father was pastor. Later, she became an active member of the ''Willing Workers'' at New Psalmist Baptist Church. Mary Leonora received her early years of education in North Carolina. She pursued her career in nursing at Shaw University. In 1974, she continued her education at Teachers College, Columbia University completing the Supervisor as a Clinical Care Coordinator program and she attended University of Maryland College Park, obtaining her license in Nursing Home Administration in the State of Maryland. She was certified in Legal Aspects of Nursing in 1978. She was certified in 1991 in Health Concepts and Services. On September 25, 1954, Mary Leonora married John Theodore Jones Jr., who preceded her in death in 1976. Out of this union one child was born, David Kevin Shouard Jones. Mary Leonora started her nursing career at Provident Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. She made history in her own right when she became the first black Registered Nurse at the prestigious Sinai Hospital in 1959. In 1970, she started working at Maryland General Hospital, where she worked her way up to become their first Director of Nurses. In 1982, she left Maryland General for politics and ran for Congress in the 7th Congressional District. Later in her career, she utilized her education and experience to become an Administrator in various nusing homes throughout the Baltimore area. She took her position very seriously. She was a no-nonsensical individual about her work. It was not just a job; it was dedication to her patients. Her professional touch was felt by all. Mary Leonora loved her family gatherings for dinners and barbecues. She loved coming up with new recipes to try out on the family. She loved setting her table with only the finest of china and tableware. She delighted in watching home movies of past family gatherings and had no problem posing for some of them. Nothing surprised her. She could take a difficult moment and smooth it over as she went on to the next thing. She had a laughter that was infectious and children were drawn so easily to her waiting lap for a hug and a kiss. She would give you her last, and expected nothing from you. She was highly educated and intelligent, but loved with a heart that was so big. Mary Leonora was preceded in death by; her mother, Nettie Williams; her father, Rev. Vernion T. Williams; her brothers, Chester, Henry, Odell and Rev. Addison McDowell; her sister, Gladys Patterson; and her nephew, Zaid Imani. Mary Leonora is survived by: her son, David K. Shouard Jones; her adopted daughter, Marsha McCorr; her granddaughters, Danielle, Kim and Tracey; her grandson, Walter; her niece, Robin Covington James; her nephews, V. Eric May Sharon, Addison McDowell Jr. Marilyn, Verion II Jayne, Michael, Kelly Gayle, Daniel Darlene, Christian and Erick Williams; brother-in-law, Col. Claude H. Patterson; two sisters-in-law, Audrey and Jean Williams; and a host of other family and friends. She will be sorely missed.