Rena Bradshaw Jones

Published 11:25 am Friday, January 3, 2025

WINTERVILLE, North Carolina – Rena Bradshaw Jones, R.N., age 90, died Dec. 16, 2024.

Born June 19, 1934, in Black Creek, Virginia, she was the fourth of six children born to the late Linwood and Alma (Bulls) Bradshaw. She grew up on a family farm in Southampton County, Virginia. After graduating from Courtland High School, she earned her nursing diploma from Louise Obici School of Nursing in Suffolk, Virginia.

Upon graduation from nursing school in 1954, she went to work for

Rena Bradshaw Jones

Obici Hospital where she had been a student nurse. She met the man she would marry while living in Suffolk. After marrying, they relocated to Greenville, NC where she was a nurse at the old Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Over the years, she also worked with the Walter B. Jones Center, the Eastern Carolina Sheltered Workshop, and Tarheel Home Health. All told, she worked as a registered nurse for over 52 years—and only retired then to take care of her husband the last ten years of his life. If anyone ever chose the right profession, her family believes that she did. She had a servant’s heart.

After retiring, she enjoyed being involved in her community as a devoted volunteer. In particular, she found fulfillment in her various volunteer roles in her church—the Winterville Baptist Church. She also enjoyed tutoring and serving as a school volunteer at W. H. Robinson Elementary School and served as an Emergency Relief volunteer. As a breast cancer survivor, she supported activities to promote this important health concern.

Even though she worked outside of her home while she raised three children, she also grew a garden and made home-cooked meals for her family. She had a reputation for being a good Southern cook and everyone who had the opportunity to eat at her table or to sample her signature dishes had fond memories of these occasions. Throughout her life, she cared for her family and expressed her love through her cooking. In addition to watching football and cooking, she loved country music, especially Willie Nelson, and visiting with family and friends.

Being the last survivor of her immediate family, she was preceded in death by her parents and all five of her siblings (Burnell B. Bryant, Thomas Irving Bradshaw, Joseph Linwood Bradshaw, Melvin Douglas Bradshaw, and Doreen B. Bradshaw).

She is survived by her two daughters, Carol Jones Shields and husband, Jimmy, of Scotland Neck and Susan Jones Rodwell and husband, Chris, of Seven Springs; her only son, Billy Eugene (Gene) Jones and his partner, Mary Gardner of Ayden; two granddaughters— Brandy Shields Martin and husband, Buck, of Louisburg and Dr. Morgan Rodwell Arocho and her husband Ben of Burleson, Texas; her only grandson, Zac Rodwell and his wife Lindsay of Seven Springs; and six beloved great grandchildren – Coby Martin and his wife Ashlyn; Carter Martin and his fiancée Mikayla; Cloei Martin; Reid and Nora Arocho; and Clay Rodwell. She is also survived by her husband’s siblings who she thought of as her own family and include: sister in-laws Helen J. Stancill of Ayden and Carolyn O. Ginn (Morris) of Greenville; brother in-laws, Ronnie Jones of Greenville and Linwood Tilman of Sneads Ferry; Jesse Oakley (Belinda) of Fuquay Varina; Charles Oakley (Wanda) of Greenville; Gene Oakley of Greenville; Garry Oakley (Diane) of Montgomery, Texas; and a host of dear nieces and nephews and three sisters-in-law who survive her deceased brothers.

Rena will be remembered by her family as a hard-working woman who sacrificed so that they could realize their dreams. Her legacy includes four generations of nurses. In addition to her own 52 years of nursing, she leaves a daughter and granddaughter who are nurses, and a great-grandson who is currently an ECU nursing student.

A celebration of her life will be conducted Sunday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. at Winterville Baptist Church, 2593 Church Street, Winterville, N.C. 28590. The family will receive family and friends following the service. A private burial was held in the Baptist Cemetery in Scotland Neck, N.C.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Winterville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1669, Winterville, N.C. 28590.

Arrangements by Smith Funeral Service & Crematory. Online condolences may be expressed at www.smithfcs.com.