Esther Jones: Giving from the sidelines

By Keri Lunt
Staff Writer
Published on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:13 PM MST

When Esther Jones’ husband, Bill, passed away two years ago, her friends thought she would wither away. “But not Esther,” Irene Sullivan said, “She gets out and helps people.”

Jones is a member of the Rebekahs; she spends every Saturday morning serving food at the American Legion, and her role in the Safford High School band is the “band grandma.”

Jones received her title of “band grandma” because of the many hours she volunteers by mending uniforms, preparing meals, chaperoning on band trips and being the organizer on the sidelines.

Esther Jones spends her time giving back to others. She is a member of the Rebekahs, she volunteers at the American Legion, and her role in the Safford High School band is “band grandma.” Photo by Keri Lunt

Irene Sullivan, wife of band director Tom Sullivan, also helps with the band. “(Jones) is truly a volunteer; I just do it because of my husband,” Irene said.

The two were up at 4 a.m. the morning of the Band State Festival, preparing food and getting ready for the event. The festival was held in Glendale, and that same night, the band performed at the football state play-offs in the Gila Valley.

Jones always goes on band trips prepared, even carrying a stapler in her purse. While at the festival, one of the band member’s pants ripped, and she and Irene had to improvise and duct tape them back together. Tom said, “A band joke is that if one of the band grandmas doesn’t have it in their purse, you don’t need it.

“She has spent her entire life being of service to others. I am simply glad she found our band,” Tom said.

“To me (giving) is just a natural thing to do,” Jones said.

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1 comment(s)

ml wrote on Jan 29, 2009 12:53 PM:

" Mrs. Jones, I have to agree with you. Giving should be the natural thing to do. I live by those words myself. Give, Give, Give! And out of the blue God rewards you and that it a true statement! "

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