No one ever had to wonder about how Mary Jones felt about Yazoo City.
Jones, a longtime business and civic leader, died Friday at age 92.
“Mary Jones was Yazoo’s cheerleader and champion extraordinaire,” said friend Jo Prichard. “She loved the community, and her tireless efforts made it better in so many ways. She showed us all the power of dreaming dreams and then putting in the sweat equity required to make them come true. Through her Main Street Stationer, Mary’s real life tales of Yazoo reached almost as many readers as Willie Morris’ books. As Mary saw it, Yazoo’s cup was not half full or half empty, but running over with goodness.”
The establishment of Mijo Lithography by Jones’ father Thomas Grantham Miles and her husband Earl Wilson Jones in 1953 set the stage for Jones to become one of Yazoo’s greatest champions.
“Mary Jones was a walking and talking Yazoo welcome wagon,” said local real estate agent Melinda Dees. “She was a kind lady who turned strangers into friends. I never pass Mijo’s without thinking of her.”
Jones worked for Southland Oil Company when she and her husband first moved to Yazoo, but she soon joined Mijo’s as a graphic designer and typesetter and was responsible for many other duties.
“She was a special friend to us since our moving here in 1973,” said Molly McNair, who owns Gilbert Lumber Company with her husband Bill. “Mary never met a stranger, and everywhere we went people would always ask us if we knew Mary Jones when they found out we were from Yazoo City. They either knew her through the ‘Chronicles of Yazoo” or the “Main Street Stationer.”
Around 1980 she began the publication of The Main Street Stationer, a monthly newsletter sent to customers. In addition to promoting the printing business, Jones used the newsletter to promote good things in Yazoo City. She was a strong advocate for shopping locally.
“She was a very sweet lady with a beautiful smile and heart,” said Bebe Crisler. “I never went into Mijos without knowing beforehand that I would come out smiling. She will be missed.”
One of her accomplishments that Jones was most pleased with was her role as co-creator of co-creator of “The Chronicles of Yazoo”, a musical history of her beloved town that was performed for several years.
She was a founding member of Discover Yazoo and worked with those preserving the Main Street School and forming the Triangle Cultural Center. For many years she was chair of the Gateway to the Delta Arts & Crafts Festival. She was also active in the Yazoo County Chamber of Commerce, Yazoo Historical Society, Downtowners’ Association, Witch Way to Yazoo Festival, the Willie Morris Festival, the Oaks House Preservation Society and other activities that promoted Yazoo County and tourism to the area.
“She was a true Yazoo legend,” said longtime Yazoo pharmacist Max Sanders. “We never knew a sweeter, kinder soul. She is greatly missed.”
Jones was awarded the Spirit of Yazoo Award by the Yazoo Chamber of Commerce for her community efforts.
“Mrs. Jones always impressed me with her impeccable speech, manners and class,” said Becky Flowers, who worked with Jones at Mijo’s for a couple of years as a high school student. “One year, for the store’s Christmas tree she made beautiful white ornaments that were like nothing I had ever seen. They were handmade, meaningful shapes of musical instruments and symbols of faith and peace. It was just a gorgeous tree, and I have yet to see anything so beautiful. It was a project from her heart.”
A Memorial Service will be at the Triangle Cultural Center in Yazoo City on Friday at 2 p.m.
