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Grace Sellers Jones, 101, the widow of the late Rev. John Bayley Jones IV, died Nov. 25, 2012, at the Maryland Masonic Home in Hunt Valley. The family celebrated her life in a private service.

Grace Sellers was born and raised in Philadelphia, where she was a high school basketball all star. She also excelled at tennis at the time when tennis was in its fledgling years for women.

She attended Temple University in the ‘30s, and taught fourth grade in a Philadelphia inner city school.

She married John Bayley Jones IV in 1935, while he was serving a three-point student charge in Cumberland. She served with him throughout his pastoral career, which spanned 40 years. His appointments and the subsequent moves included: Parksley, Va. from 1936-‘38; Deer Park from ‘39-‘41, then Buckeystown and Parkton, ’42-’44. He then went into extension ministries as director of public relations at Western Maryland College (McDaniel) for three years, returning to parish ministry in 1949 at Frostburg, where he remained until 1954. From 1955-’59, he was appointed to Calvary UMC in Washington, D.C., then became District Superintendent of the Baltimore South District from 1960-’64. His last appointment was Towson UMC from 1965-’76, from which he retired.

They retired to Frostburg where he served the Frostburg UMC as visitation pastor. In 1999, they settled into the Masonic Home community in Frostburg, where he died in 2003 and she remained until her death.

Grace Jones was an active pastor's wife, often contributing anecdotal illustrations for his weekly sermons. She taught in schools of mission, was a leader in the United Methodist Women's Society, and focused on social concerns. She was especially active in the Civil Rights Movement of the ‘60s. Many young women in the congregations sought her out for comfort during stressful times in their lives. She also loved reading, knitting, opera and movies.

She is survived by her three children, John Bayley Jones V of Brunswick, Maine, Grace Sue Schmidt of San Francisco, and Judy Hickey of Monkton, five grand children and six great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to Carl and Judy Hickey, 1300 Corbett Road, Monkton, MD 21111.