Mrs. Debra Eugenia Jones-Relford

March 3, 1958 - June 24, 2020

Debra Eugenia Jones was born at 9:30am on March 3, 1958 at Stephens Nursing Home in Lexington, Kentucky. Debra was the fifth child out of seven to be born to the late Henrietta “Tiny” Jones and John Briggs Jones. She departed her earthly life on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 4:45pm at Baptist Health Lexington after a lengthy battle with her physical health. Debra was educated in the Fayette County School System where the teachers and principal at Booker T. Washington Elementary often gave her Honor awards for Penmanship and Outstanding Scholarship as well as Outstanding Citizenship. She attended Bryan Station High School as a member of the Class of 1975 and received her GED. Like her mother, Debra always had a passion for caring for the medically frail. Continuing to follow in her mother’s footsteps, after years of serving as a Nurse’s Aid under the tutelage of her mother, in 1990 she began her studies at Bluegrass Technical College and in 1992 she graduated from their Nursing Program. Debra was also a member of Kentucky Diamond Legacy, Inc. where she served as a Senior Advisor and a mentor. She was better known as “Mama” and “Granny Debra” to countless young mothers and their children. She also served on the Community Action Board. She confessed her life and hopes in Christ at a young age and was baptized by the Late Reverend J.S. Beverly at Bethel Baptist Church. She continued her faithful membership at Bethel until her passing. On June 11, 1988 her cousin, the Late Rev. Henry M. Poyntz, Sr., married Debra to her childhood sweetheart, Robert Preston Relford. Together, they raised Debra’s three children from a previous relationship. In addition to her parents, preceding her in death were her stepmother, Carolyn Jones; maternal grandparents, Catherine Poyntz and Albert Gate Lyman; paternal grandparents, James H. Jones and Eliza Slaughter; a sister, Gloria N. Jones-Bentley; her Godparents, Mother Elizabeth and Roy Woods, whom she held dear to her heart; very special friends and adopted parental guides, Mrs. Patsy and Papa Charlie Wright of Louisville. Debra leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 32 years, Robert; her eldest daughter, DeTajalica D. Jones-Wallace, second born, MarQuist M. Jones, and her baby-girl and son-in-law, NaShayla C. and JiHadd Haqq; a step-daughter, Gronisha L. Buchanan-Campbell; 15 grandchildren, from eldest to youngest, Chase, Alneisha Smith, DeKeybreeon Jones, E’Moni Ballard, DeKuaneeque Jones, NaKareéon Jones, DePasheoneé Jones, NasCyauni Jones, D’Wight Bethel, Legacy Wallace, Thomas C. Wallace III, MarQuist Jones, Jr., NaPrincya Jones, Netailya Gallman and London Ferguson; five great-grandchildren, Tristen, Christian, Aries, Chase, and Kason; two sisters, Catherine (James) Love and JoEvelyn (Greg) Jones; four brothers, Robert (Jane) Jones, Min. James (Lisa) Jones, Jon (Faye) Jones and John Robert (Frances) Blackford, all of Lexington; two aunts, Mary Wade and Gennie Garner; two god-daughters, Dacoma Bond and LaWanda Baker; a godson, Rev. Edward Allen; more than 80 nieces and nephews that she was adored by; a host of beloved cousins and friends; and a very special companion and service dog, Sebastian.