Our beloved mother, Verba Maxine Lowe Jones, 80, peacefully entered the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, July 7, 2024. 

She was affectionately known as “Verb” and “Aunt Verb” by her loving family.   

Verba was born November 21,1943 and raised in Roanoke Rapids, NC. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Getrude Lowe, and her sister, Mrs. Frances Moody. 

She graduated from John Armstrong Chaloner and began her professional career in education administration in the Halifax County School System (NC) at Everetts Elementary School. 

She continued as an Executive Administrator through retirement from Newport News Public Schools Board Offices after 42 years of service. 

She liked sharing her love of reading, she could read 400+ page books in a day, and talking about current events with all who knew her.

She often enjoyed spending time in the library or giving commentary on the news and she was our very own “weather girl” being prepared in every season. 

Verba had a passion for fashion and loved to accessorize and coordinate her looks for every occasion. 

She had a keen eye for gardening and often had the best flower bed in the neighborhood or hanging baskets for every season. She loved flowers, singing and decorating for the holidays. Verba also enjoyed her part-time job at Macys and had many customers that loved to shop with her. 

Verba was an amazing conversationalist, she was knowledgeable on many topics and often could find unique ways to make such a complex current event become relatable to everyday life. She firmly believed in taking the time to learn something new and being a seeker of knowledge. She believed that if you didn’t know something, take the time to find out about it, research it for your own understanding.  

During her journey in life, Verba met and married John H. Jones and to this union they share two daughters, Vonda (Bowie, MD) and Amanda (Hampton, VA).  Verba also loved her stepson Derrick Hicks, Sr. (Newport News, VA) who she relied on and cherished very much. 

Though their marriage dissolved, she continued to demonstrate the importance of family, love and respect as an example for her family. 

Family brought great joy to Verba and she enjoyed spending time with her loved ones. 

In her later years, she gained two “grand-pups” (Leila and Rylee) who gave her many laughs with their tail wagging and holiday costumes. 

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Vonda and Amanda; and stepson Derrick Hicks Sr. (Monzella). She is also survived by her sister, Evelyn Stevens; brothers Dr. Walter Lowe (Mozine) and Dr. Calvin Lowe (Tanya) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who share memories of their life together. 

Our Mom, Verba Jones, “Mrs. Jones” to many, was a loving and devoted mother. 

Her humility and strength was often admired by many and that was very much her nature. 

She may have only stood 5’-5’’ tall but she was a giant in our eyes, spunky and the best hug giver any child could want, no matter how old you were. 

Mom never missed a moment to say “I love you” and she embodied love and light to all who knew her. 

We will continue to cherish her legacy of love always. 

Viewing will be held Tuesday, July 16, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Cooke Bros. Funeral Chapel, 1601-27th, Newport News, VA. 23607. 

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at the funeral chapel. Entombment will be in Hampton Memorial Gardens.