Dec. 24, 1933 – April 25, 2014

NATCHEZ — Services for Emma Ruth Jones January, 80, who died Friday, April 25, 2014, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, will be at noon Saturday at Smithland Baptist Church with the Rev. Percy Turner officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 5:45 p.m. today with a “Celebration of Life” Wake Service at 6 p.m. at the funeral home and from 11 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mrs. January was born Dec. 24, 1933, in Church Hill, the daughter of Silas Jones and Excelena Tyler Jones.

She accepted Christ in 1946, was baptized by the Rev. Freddie Butler and united with Smithland Baptist Church, where she served on the mother’s board faithfully until her death.

She worked at Natchez Regional Medical Center for 35 years where she retired on May 21, 1998.

Mrs. January was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, James Jones, Sam Jones and Charles E. Jones; and one sister, Mary Joyce Robinson.

Survivors include three sons, Andrew January and wife, Margaret, Willie January Sr. and wife, Shelia, all of Natchez, and Theodore Jones of New Orleans; two daughters, Linda Brown and husband, Maurice, of Jacksonville, Ark., and Tracy January of Natchez; three brothers, Silas Jones and wife, Rose Marie, Merrick Jones and wife, Florean, all of Natchez, and Theodore Jones of New Orleans; two sisters, Mary Ford and husband, Rev. Ernest Sr., of Natchez, and Gloria Jackson of New Orleans; six granddaughters; eight grandsons; one sister-in-law; 12 great grandchildren; Janie Jones of Natchez; and one brother-in-law, James Robinson of Port Gibson.

Online condolences may be sent to westgatefh.com.