A Life Well Lived

On the 24th day of March, 1946, in Gary, West Virginia, God fashioned a soul of extraordinary measure and sent her into the world as Ramona Carletia Buford—daughter of the late Claude and Australia Page. From those Appalachian hills, He was already shaping a woman who would spend her life being a light to everyone she touched.

Ramona came of age in Springfield, Ohio, the city that would become her home, her mission field, and her legacy. She walked the halls of Fulton Elementary School and Roosevelt Junior High School before going on to graduate from Springfield South High School in 1962, carrying with her the discipline and determination that would define her life. That same hunger for knowledge never left her. In 1998—years into a full professional life—she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the historic Wilberforce University, a testament to her conviction that learning and becoming are lifelong callings.

A Love That Lasted

In 1967, Ramona united in marriage with Michael P. Jones, and to that union was born the greatest joy of her life—her one and only son, Michael Brandon Jones. Though that season of her life would eventually draw to a close, it gave her a gift beyond measure, and she carried it forward with grace.

In 1975, God wrote a new chapter. Ramona and Ernest Henry joined their lives together, and what followed was more than fifty years of what can only be described as balanced oneness. Theirs was not merely a marriage—it was a covenant partnership, a shared vision, and a daily demonstration of what it looks like when two people build a life in the same direction.

Ernest and Ramona were cut from the same cloth—both oriented toward education, both committed to community, both anchored in faith. Ernest pursued Biblical scholarship and teaching, investing himself in the spiritual formation of those around him. Ramona began her career as a secretary at Warder Park Elementary and grew into a community liaison at Emerson Elementary. Together, they modeled what strong, purposeful partnership looks like across generations. Their home was a place of warmth and wisdom—and the people who entered it were never quite the same when they left.

More than five decades. One love. One direction. One legacy.

A Life of Service

After retiring from Springfield City Schools in the early 2000s, Ramona did not slow down—she simply redirected. She joined Wellspring as a Program Coordinator, where she championed and powered Springfield’s Families and Schools Together (F.A.S.T.) program—a nationally recognized model for building partnerships between families, schools, and communities.

Her service extended far beyond any single role. She became one of Springfield’s most trusted voices for families—a certified program facilitator, a longtime parent and family advocate, a former President of the Springfield Peace Center, a member of the Community Action for a Better Region Board (CARB), a Human Relations Board member, and a member of the City Police Advisory Team (CPAT). She was also a trained 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline advocate, because she understood that holding someone through their darkest moment is holy work.

In 2025, the Springfield Foundation presented Ramona with the Catalyst of Change Award—a fitting tribute to a woman who did not wait for change to come, but became it. She served because she was called, and she gave because it was simply who she was.

A Kingdom Woman

Above all else, Ramona Carletia Henry was a woman of God—strong in spirit, anchored in faith, and Kingdom-minded to her core. Her walk with Christ took her through several faith communities, each one shaped by her faithful presence. She served the Church of God MPG of T and the Church of Jesus Family Worship Center, where she sang in the choir, served as an usher, organized events, and directed plays—bringing the whole of herself to the house of the Lord. Most recently, she was a beloved and faithful member of the House of Prayer in Springfield, Ohio. She loved the 91st Psalm with her whole heart—and she lived it.

She loved beautifully—her family, her cooking, her travels, her pets, and the simple joy of being alive. She embraced life as the gift it was. And her legacy is not merely what she accomplished, but who she helped others become.

Those She Leaves Behind

Ramona was preceded in transition by her beloved parents, Claude and Australia Page, who raised her well and now welcome her home. Also preceding her in transition was her bonus son, Phil.

She departs this life leaving a family whose lives she shaped and whose hearts she forever holds. She is survived by her devoted and beloved husband, Deacon Ernest Henry—her partner of more than fifty years. She leaves her one and only son, Dr. Brandon Jones, and his dear wife, Ellen, her “daughter-in-love” whom Ramona claimed as her own. And she leaves her most highly cherished granddaughter, Alanna—the delight of her latter years and the continuation of her light.

Additionally, she leaves her bonus children Michelle, Carmen, and Ken—and a whole host of “honorary” childrenwho loved her dearly and called her their “second Mother.” To each of them, she gave what she gave to everyone who entered her space: time, wisdom, warmth, and the unmistakable sense that they were seen and loved.

She also leaves behind a Springfield community that is quieter, but not poorer—for the seeds she planted will continue to grow.

“Her legacy is not just what she has done—it is who she has helped others become.”

Mother Henry was a presence. A guide. A light.

And through her, many have found their way.

Visitation is Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 5 p.m. until the time of service at 6 p.m. in Greater Grace Temple. Burial will be Friday, July 3, 2026 in Rose Hill Burial Park at 12:30 p.m. The procession for the burial will form at 12 noon at the Robert C. Henry Funeral Home.