Jean Eaves, 76 of Blacksburg passed away on June 27 at Lewis Gail Hospital in Salem, Virginia.
Jean was born to Howard and Esther Jones on November 2, 1942 in Wake Forrest, Virginia. She graduated from Christiansburg Institute in 1960 and attended Bennet College in Greensboro, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Jean was preceded in death by her father Howard Jones. She is survived by her mother, Esther Jones, brother, Dr. Arnold Jones (Renee) and husband, Howard Eaves, Sr. She also survived by her sister in law Mary C .Roy of Stafford, Virginia. She has two daughters, Dr. Tracie Edmond (Larry) of San Antonio, Texas and Tia Smith of Radford. Tracie gave Jean three grandchildren, Shaylin, Shannon (Elvis), Joshua. Tia gave Jean three grandchildren Antonio, Nakia and Raeshon.
Together Howard and Jean had 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Jean worked for the United States Federal Government, Department of Treasury, for many years and served her country in the United States Navy as a Reserve Officer. She concluded her career at the Radford arsenal where she retired in 2004. She was a member of Spirit of Life Worship Center in Pulaski, Virginia.
Jean was a woman of many talents and known for her humor and wit. In fact, she had a special gift for finding humor in every situation.
She was very instrumental in the desegregation efforts of the 1960s and was the first African American secretary hired in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Anyone who knew Jean knew that she was always willing to lend a helping hand. In fact, as many can attest, it was very hard to get her to sit still and relax, if there was something to be done she would always be one of the first to volunteer to get it done.
If you were to look up a servants’ heart in the dictionary, you would find a picture of Jean. She had such a selfless spirit as she served her family, her friends, her community, and her country. If Jean saw a need or someone needing assistance, she would go out of her way to help.
Her willingness to serve is an example for all of us to follow. Jean lit the torch of service that is to be passed to the next generation, to her friends and to her love ones left behind, Let us all continue Jean’s legacy of dedication and service by using our life as a testimony of God’s hand extended to help and to serve others.
One of Jeans favorite Bible verses is Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”.
Although we all will miss Jean, we are now rejoicing that her pure heart and her kind spirit is now resting in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.
Funeral services were conducted on Monday, July 8 at 1 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed at Wake Forest Cemetery, Blacksburg. The family received friends on Sunday, July 7 at McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.
