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Verna Day-Jones, 85, the widow of the late Rev. John Minor Day Jr., died Oct. 2 in Baltimore. A funeral service was held Oct. 12 at the Douglas Memorial Community Church in Baltimore, where her husband once served. The Rev. Todd Yeary officiated at the service.

Day-Jones was married for 26 years to the Rev. Day before he died in 1976, and worked with him through his Army service and education to become a United Methodist minister. He served the pulpits on the Centreville Charge, Douglas Memorial Community Church, Christ Edmondson UMC and the Atholton Charge.

She was an actress on the Baltimore stage for more than 60 years, critically acclaimed for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman, according to the Baltimore Sun.

She moved to Baltimore from Pittsburg in 1943 to work with the Social Security Administration, working her way up from file clerk to becoming an employee development specialist. She retired in 1984.

Day-Jones began acting in the 1940s as Verna Faye Lee with the Greenwich Theater, Baltimore's first integrated acting company. She joined Arena Players Inc. in 1953 and starred in its second production, "Picnic." She continued her association with the company until her death.

In addition to stage work, she also acted in commercials, movies and TV. She had roles in "Homicide: Life on the Street, "The Wire," and "America's Most Wanted." She appeared in "Hairspray" and other films. Her last performance before her death was as Harriet Tubman Sept. 19 at Sharp Street Memorial UMC.

In addition to Day, she was predeceased by her second husband, Albert Johnny Jones, in 2001.

Survivors include her daughters Stephanie Day Carter of Baltimore, Lina Elaine Day of Gwynn Oak; three stepsons, Dennis Day and John Day III of Baltimore, and Cortland Jones of Asheville, N.C.; a step-daughter Marguerite Hunt-Evans of Venice, Fla., 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to Stephanie Day Carter, 2508 Oakley Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215.