Clarice Jones

Surrounded by her family, Clarice S. Jones, 89, of Cleveland, Tennessee peacefully went to her Heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior early Saturday morning, January 31, 2026. She was born August 8,1936, to the late William Lawrence Simmons and Susie Mizell Simmons in Live Oak, Florida.

Clarice was raised in Florida where as a child, she loved climbing trees as high as she could and pulling out her little pocketknife and peeling oranges and eating them. She loved being barefoot outside and working on their family farm or helping her mom in the kitchen.

As she grew up and married and had a family of her own, Clarice became very accomplished in her cooking skills and loved cooking meals for family, friends, and church gatherings. Her fried chicken was out of this world and her chicken and dressing was in its own food group! She was also well known for her "famous" homemade BBQ sauce. Her coconut cream pie, lemon pie, and German chocolate cake were among her favorite desserts that everyone loved. She always made sure you were "full as a tick"when you got up from her dinner table.

Clarice loved God and singing Red Back Hymnal songs and church songs with her husband in quartets, choir, and family gatherings as he played the piano and harmonized with her. She was a quiet worshipper, always with a smile on her face and sometimes tears in her eyes as she would sing and praise her Lord and Savior.

Her hobbies, besides cooking and singing, included playing basketball in her younger days with her kids, gardening, camping with the family and church friends, and traveling with the Way Makers Sunday School Class. She often recalled her visit to the Holy Land in the 70's, which she always said was one of the most moving experiences in her life. Clarice was also a breast cancer survivor and was an encourager to others who fought it as well.

She moved to Tennessee with her family in 1994. Her family were always the most important people in her life. She enjoyed spending time with them any time she could. Clarice loved her husband with her whole heart and her children meant everything to her! When grandchildren and great-grandchildren began coming along, she was always excited to see and hold each one and feed them whatever they wanted to eat or drink! They were "Nana's angels."

She will be greatly missed, but we know she is no longer in pain or suffering from the cruel effects of dementia.

Along with her husband, J.T. and her parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers, Paul Simmons, Leon Simmons, Quincy Simmons, and sisters, Vivian Simmons, Vetres Justiss, Vernice Prescott, and Louise Smith.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her sister, Vonnie Anderson, brother, Bobby (Carolyn) Simmons, daughter, Cheri Cummings; daughter, Twyla (Jaime) Reyes; daughter, Toika (Donnie) Sherlin; daughter, Jennifer (Jon) Denver; son, Brian (Syvannah) Jones; Grandchildren: Haylei (Chad) Longwith, Hope (Drew) Guetensberger, Eric Collado, Kevin (Keren) Collado, Jose Reyes, Omar Reyes, Ivan Reyes, Ross (Jenna) Sherlin, Jaxson Denver, Kailyn Denver, Thomas Denver, Noah Jones, Berkeley Jones, Levi Jones, Paisley Jones, Jude Jones, Everley Jones, Luke Jones, Zechariah Jones; Great-Grandchildren: Katrina Collado, Sonia Collado, Maia Longwith, Emmett Sherlin and expecting in August, Lucas Longwith.

The family would like to express special thanks to Legacy Village of Cleveland, and Hearth Hospice for their kindness and care for Clarice during her time with them. All the staff were exceptional in their care for her.

The family will receive friends Sunday, February 8, 2026, 2:00 - 4:00 PM at Mt. Olive Ministries, 3522 Harrison Pike W, Cleveland, TN 37311.

A Celebration of Life Service following visitation, will begin at 4:00 PM at Mt. Olive Ministries.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations to be made to Legacy Village of Cleveland, Memory Care.