Demetra Renee Jones

 Demetra Renee Jones, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.Demetra was born on August 20, 1966 in Hamilton Hospital to the Late George L. Jones and Leatha M. Pruitt Jones. She was the fourth child born to this union and known as the baby. 

As a child Demetra loved riding her bike up and down Hamilton streets. She was one of the first in Hamilton to get a moped and she was a fearless rider. Demetra was riding her moped with no lights and a guy had to pull off the road to keep from hitting her. Demetra accepted Christ at an early age. She graduated from Hamilton High School and received the Mildred Hackley Memorial Scholarship to attend the HBCU, Central State University. Demetra obtained her bachelors degree from Central State and furthered her studies at Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati. Demetra gave birth to one son, Carlos Demetre Ware, the joy of her life. Demetra’s early career in teaching began immediately out of college as a Head Start Teacher. After that initial stepping stone, she joined the Cincinnati Public School District (CPS). Demetra‘s first and longest CPS teaching assignment was at Heberle Elementary School where she worked for over 20 years. She was determined not to leave one student behind and taught with her heart. Demetra was a middle school math teacher for grades 6th – 8th. Over her 20 year span at Heberle, Demetra served in various leadership roles, rendered math tutoring, and lovingly provided mentorships to countless students determined to cultivate their math potential. Her favorite afterschool responsibility included being the school’s Drill Team and Cheerleading Coach. Demetra worked for the CPS for 35 years. Her most recent teaching assignment was at Gilbert A. Dater High School as the Momentum Teacher which focused on student’s social, emotional learning and mind peace, 7th and 8th grade math classes, and international baccalaureate classes. Outside of the classroom at Dater, Jones, as she was called by co-workers, was Teacher-In-Charge, the Middle School Instructional Leadership Team Representative, Lead Teacher for the Math Department and the Lead Teacher for the Fine Arts Department. Jones also managed the Schedule E Clubs and Activities for the student body and staff. During the summer months, Demetra was the Summer Bridge Program Coordinator and Teacher for incoming 7th graders. She also worked with Remnant Ministries to ensure that meals were prepared for the homeless youth. After Demetra’s teaching time at Heberle, she shared her passion for teaching mathematics at Hoffman Elementary and South Avondale Schools. She was an active member of the Instructional Leadership Team at both schools. Jones had her administrative licensure and was given an opportunity to extend her mathematics knowledge and strategic skills when she was selected to join the Cincinnati Public School District’s Leadership Team as an instructional support team member and math coach. As a vital member of this urriculum training for various teachers, and analyzed data for academic projections and the enhancement of student growth and achievement for various schools throughout the district. Demetra also trained numerous student teachers from Xavier University, University of Cincinnati, and Mt. St. Joseph by providing job shadowing and teaching internships to prepare upcoming teachers for their careers in teaching. Jones had such a passion for teaching that it stretched throughout the school year and into the summer. For over 20 summers, Demetra taught mathematics to 5th and 6th graders at Project Connect, rendering specialized educational services and lifestyle enrichment opportunities for children who have neither a voice, nor a choice, in experiencing homelessness. Demetra will forever be remembered as a passionate mathematics teacher who entered every classroom enthusiastic, dedicated, nurturing, and supportive. She was one who led every classroom through engagement, creativity, rigor and inspiration. Demetra has left her classroom with a legacy for developing thought provoking leaders who can ignite their innate ability to achieve greatness and the confidence to empower others to do the same. Demetra Jones is and will always be the G.O.A.T. - the Greatest of All Time! Down through the years, Demetra picked up several nick names, as a child: Cindy, from her late grandma Elizabeth; Bones, by college friends; Aunt MeMe, by niece Leah Jones-Finklea and her other nieces and nephews; Sissy, by her sister-in-law Dee; the title Mom, by her son Carlos; Grandma by her grandson, Knox; Ms. Jones, by her students; Jones, by her co-workers; and God called her friend. What a woman she was.

Left to cherish her memories are: a loving family her Mother, Leatha M. Jones; son, Carlos Demetre Ware; grandson, Knox Ware; sister, Annette Bratton; brothers, Dwayne Jones (Ora), Rodney Jones, Sr. (Daphne), and Darwin Jones; nieces and nephews that she loved dearly, Rodney Jones, Jr., Leah Jones-Finklea (Evan), Isaac Jones (Cassandra), Angela Slaughter (Kevin), Roscoe Bratton, and Shayla Willis (Gary); great nieces and nephews, Blake Jones, Aleyah Jones, Rodney Jones, III, Amy Jones, Lovely Finklea, Isaac Jones, Jr., Roman W. Jones, David Finklea, MarMar Finklea, Maxwell Willis (Bailey), Morgan Willis, and Reginald Davis; one great great nephew, Malachi Willis; brothers, Darnell Jackson (Tiffany) and Adrian Jackson (Susan); sister, Dorinda Jackson; baby cousin, Shamika Pruitt; and a host of other family and friends. Her legacy lives on through those she mentored down through the years.