Glennis Jones

Glennis Edwards Jones, age 82, of Ada, Michigan passed away peacefully at home surrounded by the love of her family on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. She was born on November 11, 1940 in Windsor, NC, the daughter of the late Floyd and Fannie (Lewis) Edwards. Glennis graduated from Windsor High School with the class of 1959 and went on to college at East Carolina College (now East Carolina University). Glennis worked as a teacher and then legal assistant for 30 years, including several years in the Pitt County District Attorney's Office until 2011. In 2021, she moved to Michigan to be close with her daughter and family. Glennis loved pulling weeds in her garden, spending time on the beaches of North Carolina, collecting stamps, making art, and being visited by all of the birds outside of her window. More than anything, she loved spending time with friends and family near and far. She was incredibly generous, witty, resilient, and loving. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Natalie Colston; son-in-law, John Colston; and brother, Floyd Edwards. Glennis is survived by her daughter, Courtney (Rich) VanValkenburg and their children, Claudia and Ethan of Michigan; grandchildren, Blake (Hayley) Colston, Vaughan (Hope) Colston, and their daughter Lizzie, and Steele (Krista) Colston and their daughter, Matilda, all of North Carolina. She is also survived by her sister, Lucy Byrd; sister-in-law, Josephine Edwards also of North Carolina; and many other beloved family and friends. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Faith Hospice for the care, support, and compassion they showed not only to Glennis, but the entire family. A visitation and memorial service is being held at Thornapple Community Church at 3260 Thornapple River Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI on Monday, August 28, 2023. Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm with a service following at 3:00 pm. If you would like to join the 3:00 service virtually, the service will be streamed and recorded here: www.youtube.com/@tccrca In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Faith Hospice in her memory to Faith Hospice, 2100 Raybrook St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Glennis Jones, please visit our flower store.