Longtime teacher, 60, was a mom to many kids

Edna Dixon Jones was as driven in the classroom as out of it.

Over the course of her 32-year career with the Broward County School District, Jones taught at elementary, middle and high schools in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Coconut Creek.

Outside of the classroom the mother of six directed chorus, presided over booster clubs, coached cheerleaders, and cofounded and was the pastor at a church.

Jones, 60, died Oct. 14 after a brief illness.

“She had children everywhere; children she raised, children she taught, children she helped,” said daughter Edna Miller, 32, of Orlando. “She was a mom to so many people, I think that was her driving force.”

Children, church and community captured her devotion. While bold, bright and out of the box, reflected her fashion sense and personality, her daughters said.

“Firecracker, out of the box, creative, innovative, forward thinking; her personality was just like that,” Miller said.

Born and raised in Pompano Beach, Jones with her late husband Pastor Clarence Jones, founded the Showers of Blessing Church of God in Christ in Coral Springs. The church is now in Pompano Beach.

Also a seamstress, Jones had flair wherever she went, whether it was from adding fur trim to a suit, donning a cape or adorning feathers to big hats, daughter Keiera Jones Weaver, 35, of Coral Springs, said.

“If she was wearing red, she was wearing it from head to toe,” Weaver said.

Jones began her career in 1985 as a teacher’s aide at Park Ridge Elementary in Deerfield Beach later moving to Crystal Lake Middle School in Pompano Beach as a substitute teacher.

Jones earned her degree in education over eight years while working part time, graduating in 1995 from Florida Atlantic University, Weaver said.

Jones next taught at Blanche Ely High before moving on to Deerfield High where she taught chorus and English. She was in the process of retiring from Monarch High in Coconut Creek, Miller said.

Jones is survived by her six children — Miller, Weaver, Dexter Humphrey, Canton Jones, Carmen Harris and Javarri Harris — and 12 grandchildren.

A wake will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Thomas Temple, Church of God in Christ, 516 NW 16th Ave., Pompano Beach.

A homegoing celebration is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Redeeming Word Christian Center International, 2800 W. Prospect Road, Fort Lauderdale.

JONES FAMILY/COURTESY Edna Dixon Jones, 60, had a 32-year career as an educator with Broward schools.