Hometown Histories:
Mary Elizabeth Blakey Jones
We are pleased to introduce our “Hometown Histories” series, a monthly program to research, document, and share stories of local citizens. This program is intended to help us remember our roots and the foundations these individuals and families laid for our Madison community. Our first hometown citizen is Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Blakey Jones, a Madison native and resident of Wolftown.
A photo of Mary Elizabeth Blakey in the first grade
A recent photo of Mary, who lives on the family property in Wolftown.
Mary Elizabeth Blakey Jones was born on March 28, 1933, at Ruth Hollow in Madison County, Virginia. Her parents were Gatewood and Clara Frye Blakey.
Her grandfather Boyd Blakey was married to Mary Ellen Taylor Blakey. Her paternal grandparents were among many families who were displaced from their land in what is now Shenandoah National Park. Together, the Blakey family owned more than 200 acres of land in the Graves Mill area.
Mary Elizabeth was named after her grandmother, Mary Ellen. She has fond memories of her mother taking her to the mountain where her grandmother would babysit her. She also remembers her Grandma Mary walking down the mountain to catch Dan Washington for a ride to the store. The Blakey family attended Rock Hall Baptist Church in Wolftown.
Mary attended the Wolftown School located behind Rock Hall Baptist Church. It was at the Wolftown School that she met her husband, the Reverend Robert Rayfield Jones. They had four children: Rayfield, Charlotte, Angus, and David. Mary and Reverend Jones enjoyed 55 years of marriage. Mary was employed for 35 years at the Blue Bell manufacturing company in Madison. A forerunner of Wrangler Jeans, Blue Bell opened a manufacturing center in the town in 1960.
Mary was an avid quilter. Some of her beautiful quilting work is on display at the Madison County African American Historical Association headquarters at 700 South Main Street in Madison. Mary and her family continue to enjoy their property in Madison.
Mary attended the Wolftown School, where she met her husband Robert.
Mary and her husband, the Rev. Robert Jones, were married for 55 years.
Mary’s parents were Clara (Frye) and Gatewood Blakey.
Mary’s early memories include visiting her grandmother Mary Ellen Blakey on the family’s Blakey Mountain property. The family was displaced during the building of Shenandoah National Park.
Mary’s family attended Rock Hall Baptist Church in Wolftown, which opened in 1874.
The family home in Wolftown.
Mary worked for 35 years at the Blue Bell manufacturing company, later acquired by Wrangler, in the town of Madison.
A recent photo of Mary at home.
A quilt created by Mary is on display at the MCAAHA headquarters at 700 South Main Street in Madison.
An accomplished seamstress and quilter, Mary expresses her creative talents in her beautiful quilts.
Another of Mary’s colorful quilts.