STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In recent weeks, St. Philip’s Baptist Church has mourned the loss of several women whose lives were deeply intertwined with the ministry and mission.
Through decades of service, faith, and leadership, Mother Etta Jones, Mother Barbara Christopher and Deacon Annetta Morris helped shape the spiritual and communal life of the Stapleton church.
Mother Etta Jones
Mother Etta Mae Jones, who died Dec. 24, 2025, at age 95, lived a life defined by service, education and unwavering faith.
Born July 6, 1930, in Lattimore, North Carolina, Jones was the eldest of 13 children raised on a hardworking family farm rooted in love and responsibility…