Cornelius “Son” Jones Sr. died Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, at his home. He was 97.

Mr. Jones was a member of Porters Chapel M.B. Church, where he served on the deacon board. He retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Waterways Experiment Station after 35 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Mary Lee Jones; three sons, Arthur Jones, Darnell Jones and Curtis Jones; and four sisters and four brothers.

He is survived by two sons, Cornelius Jones Jr. and David Lee Jones, both of Aurora, Ill.; two daughters, Rosetta Phillips Mitchell of Aurora and Beatrice Totten of Justice, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and numerous great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives, including James Mitchell of Aurora.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge