Ella Jones Mulkey

ROCKINGHAM — Mrs. Ella Jones Mulkey died Dec. 28, 2020.

Graveside services and a celebration of her life will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 at Eastside Cemetery with Dr. Allison Farrah officiating. Due to COVID-19 please wear a face mask and continue to social distance.The family plans to hold another celebration of life ceremony at First United Methodist Church in Rockingham when the COVID restrictions have been lifted.

Mrs. Mulkey was born June 20, 1925 in Gresham, South Carolina. She was the daughter of the late J. Frank and Foye Harrelson Jones. Her husband of 54 years, J.C. Mulkey, preceded her in death in 2002. 

She was a graduate of Columbia College with a B.A. degree and received a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of North Carolina. For 30 years she was a teacher and guidance counselor with Richmond County Schools. She was a member of Tau Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an International Honor Society for Outstanding Women Educators. As a member of the North Carolina Guidance Counselors Association and the North Carolina Educators Association, Mrs. Mulkey held many offices and was highly respected by band her co-workers. She served as the chairperson of the Evaluation Study of the Southern Association of Secondary Schools and College when Richmond Senior High School sought and successfully met requirements for accreditation. 

As a member of the First United Methodist Church, Mrs. Mulkey served on the Pastor-Parish Relations committee, the Prayer Ministry, a circle leader for 11 years and a teacher of the Ladies Bible Class for 51 years. She also completed four years of Disciple Bible Study. 

Mrs. Mulkey is survived by her daughter, Sharon Grahn and her husband Gary, of Atlanta; daughter-in-law, Karen Mulkey of Newport News, Virginia; five grandchildren, Michael Williams and wife Jessica, Allison Mulkey and husband Jon, Watson Mulkey, David Grahn and wife Karen and Cindy Scharyj and husband George. Mrs. Mulkey is also survived by five great-grandchildren Kendall, Hannah, Jenna, Ella and Jackson.

She is also survived by her brother, the Rev. Phil Jones, of Columbia, South Carolina.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 637, Rockingham, NC 28379; or South Carolina Cemetery Fund,  c/o Susan Railes, 1203 Swintz Court, Gresham, SC 29546.

Online condolences may be made at www.watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham is serving the Mulkey family.