In Allen, Texas, Jessie and Lillie Mae [Henderson] Jones celebrated the birth of a bouncing, baby boy on April 28, 1949. They named him Elgie Lee.

Elgie grew up with his family in Texas, where he attended McKinney Public Schools. After the family moved to Muskogee, he attended Muskogee Public Schools until he enrolled in Sapulpa School for the Deaf after discovering a hearing impairment. Better known as "Eli" to family and friends, he learned sign language and reading lips while attending school there.

The close of his life came on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and two brothers.

He leaves to cherish his memory; his sons, Calvin L. Jones, Leavenworth, Kansas and Elgie Elijah L. Jones, Kansas City, Missouri; two daughters, Quinsonya Hopkins, Bakersfield, California and Luvenia L. Jones, Kansas City, Missouri; two sisters, Johnnie Pitts [Donnie] and Frankie Williams [Shannon], all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two brothers, Evangelist Charles Jones [Sue], Dallas, Texas and Clifford E. Bishop [Laura], McKinney, Texas; his longtime companion, Carol Jack, Tulsa, Oklahoma; his God-daughter, DeLecia Davison, Tulsa, Oklahoma; two aunts, Johnnie Mae Hall, McKinney, Texas and Rose Ann Jackson, Tulsa, Oklahoma; his nephews, Willie, Aaron, Jody Jr., Henry, Charles Jr., Michael, Corey, Jeremy and Rodney; his nieces, Tednesha, Tomeka, Denise and Terrie; along with a caravan of other relatives and friends.

The service of memory for "ELi" will be on Thursday, December 22, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of Remembrance. Evangelist Charles Jones will officiate. Burial will follow in Booker T. Washington Cemetery in Muskogee. You may visit "Eli" on Wednesday from 12 Noon until 6 PM.