Meet our First Lady

Amelda is a native of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.  She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at age five; and became a member of the Second New Hope Baptist Church.  She was taught at an early age by her mother the importance of being a child of God.   Amelda has a passion for working in the church, serving in ministries, and devoting time to the work of the Lord.  

She is the wife of Rev.  Rodney M. Jones, Sr. her devoted and loving husband.   They have been married forty-two years; and are the proud parents of two adult sons, Rodney, Jr., and Reggie.  Amelda cherishes working together with her husband Rod, as they enjoy their journey, a husband-and-wife team in ministry.  She answered her call to ministry, and preached her initial sermon “Get Ready,” on June 22, 2014, at the Second New Hope Baptist Church; in a “tag team” worship experience with her husband Rod.  Amelda was licensed to preach, and her husband Rod was licensed under the mentorship and leadership of their pastor; Rev.  Dr. Charles H. Hilliard.   Amelda and her husband were ordained on May 20, 2023, at the Second New Hope Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev.  Dr.  Charles H.  Hilliard and the order of the Second New Hope Baptist Church Body.   Amelda was a member of Second New Hope Baptist Church for sixty years.  She became a member of the Mt.  Zion Baptist Church 309 Wolfe Street on February 18, 2024, along with her husband and youngest son Reggie.  She has served for nine years as an associate minister, along with her husband at Second New Hope Baptist Church.   Prior to COVID she was assigned to work with the Missionary, Deaconess, Bible Study, Prison and Nursing Home outreach Ministries of the Church.  

Amelda is a graduate of Spotsylvania Senior High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education, from Virginia State University (1981); a Master of Education Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Administration and Supervision (1987), and a Master of Divinity Degree in ministry, from the Samuel D.  Witt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University (2013).  She recently earned a certificate in Effective Leadership (June 2023) through the International Association of Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows.  She is a lifetime member of the Virginia Association and International Association of the Ministers’ Wives & Ministers’ Widows, Inc.  and the local of Fredericksburg & Vicinity.  She has served in her local chapter as past president, recording secretary, assistant secretary, currently executive board chair, scrapbook and picture taker for the local group and former Dean of Education for the VAMWMW.  She currently serves as a Presidential Appointee to Rev.  Dr.  Patricia Wormley our current State President, and chair of the Husband's Committee. She is a graduate of the 1st Cohort of the International Association Leadership Academy for IAMWMW.

Amelda is a retired special educator from  Fairfax County Public School System.  She has thirty-three years of service in Virginia’s Public Schools.

Amelda’s hobbies are reading her bible, enjoying her husband’s cooking, and traveling with her husband and family.  Prior to COVID she served as a volunteer chaplain at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Hospital.  Her favorite scripture is Brethren; I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Her favorite song is, “Blessed & Highly Favored.”