In the 45 years that Rhetta Jones has directed Marie Younts, Connie Maxwell’s residential campus in Mauldin, South Carolina, she has been on a mission to equip every girl who’s come through those doors with an invisible bag of God’s truth and life skills. This invisible bag isn’t simply a plastic bag. Jones grinningly clarified, “It’s a big black garbage bag. A big one. And I want them to get it so full of stuff that they can keep drawing out of it for a long period.” The girls that have lived at Marie Younts have undoubtedly been left with copious tools to help them succeed for years.
Jones’ career of working with children began with lifeguarding as a teenager. After graduating from college, she spent years teaching and coaching basketball in the public school system. Then, in 1975, the Lord directed her to the next part of her journey, which would combine her passions for teaching and coaching—shepherding children at a residential home.
After a season of discouragement and thinking she may leave this vocation at another organization, God led Jones to Connie Maxwell through providentially and somewhat amusingly timed events. Since her first day at Connie Maxwell in 1979, she’s been a constant fixture on the team. As Jones tells the girls at Marie Younts, “When you trust in the Lord, He’ll help you turn a stumbling stone into a stepping stone.”
This encouraging attitude has been a great help to Connie Maxwell alums like Angel Billingsley, who lived at Marie Younts from 2009-2011. Billingsley described Jones as “the godliest, selfless woman.” Memories of Jones insisting the Christmas tree needed more lights bring a smile to Billingsley’s face. Charlotte Gray, who lived at Marie Younts around the same time, also fondly remembers Jones’ lighthearted side. Jones once got a kick out of a bikini T-shirt Gray gifted her after a cruise, and Gray has affectionately dubbed her “Bahama Momma” ever since.
Jones acknowledged she’s had “not so good” times in which hanging in there has proven challenging. There have been moments when she’s walked down the hallways of Marie Younts, pondering if what she was modeling was getting through to the girls—questioning her capability and wondering why God had her in this line of work. Blessedly, Jones continued, “When I questioned God, He’d answer! He’d send a card from a former resident or a call requesting advice or the recipe of a dish I’d made.”
On these challenging days, Jones has also received encouragement from colleagues like Connie Maxwell’s former Administrator of Special Services, Jack Cauley, who was on her hiring committee in 1979. “A former student has called Rhetta the ‘extra-mile-lady,'” Cauley says. “If there’s any resource she can find and squeeze out for anyone, she will do it.” The most valuable of those resources has been, naturally, herself. Cauley says, “Rhetta kept our maintenance going—she’s a fixer. She was also the administrator and the social worker and lived in the home for 45 years. She wanted to live in the home because Rhetta does not believe kids turn on at 9 and off at 5. She wanted to be there for the bulk of it.” Even after Jones underwent surgery on several occasions, rather than taking sick days, she would come home and set up a “command center” from her bed. After being questioned about her restless lifestyle, Jones just laughed with that famous, magnetic spirit of hers.
When asked what advice Jones would give to those wanting to take on a parenting role like hers, she said that in this position, “You’ve got to keep your head on right.” She explained that it’s unfeasible to help children with their shortcomings if you don’t know yourself and your weaknesses. She added, “Your actions will need to match your words.” Saying “I love you” is extremely important, but so is how you live and interact with the children daily. According to Jones, it’s when caregivers’ words and actions match that children begin to see God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11, her favorite Bible verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The praise of Adrienne Velez, 2009-2012 Connie Maxwell alumna, further testifies that Jones has lived by biblical principles: “Ms. Rhetta is hardworking, motivated, loving, and cares a lot about children. I think about what she taught me every day!” Lynette Gray, Charlotte Gray’s sister, also touched on Jones, saying, “She is a selfless person, always willing to do anything in her power to help others. She has remained a significant part of my life even after I left. Raising children is challenging, so I can only imagine managing a group of girls with unique personalities and attitudes while staying calm and positive and keeping emotions in check. She was always consistent, and now, as an adult, I truly admire and salute her for embracing that role and excelling in it. With one child, I can’t fathom the effort required for all the children who have come and gone. Raising a child demands a lot, and she sacrificed so much. I want to thank her.” Lynette Gray additionally thanks Jones for introducing her to her friend, Pat Summitt (the former University of Tennessee Women’s Basketball Head Coach), and taking her to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Tennessee. Jones has gone to great lengths to support girls in their passions, and she has never been one to forget about them once they move elsewhere.
Jones would counsel the girls in her care, as well as girls everywhere, with this insight: “When you come to an end of a rope, tie a knot and hang on. God loves you, and He’s going to get you through it. You’re going to reach those days when you say, ‘Oh, I can’t hang on any longer,’ but tie that knot on that rope and hang on and say, ‘God got me to it, and he’s going to get me through it.'”
Rhetta Jones is adored by many for 45 years of faithfully serving the Lord Jesus Christ through Connie Maxwell. But she would like you to know that with this 24/7, 365-day-a-year role, she has needed the aid of others. When asked who’s poured into her and enabled her to perform well in this role, she listed her biological family, Jack Cauley, and her Connie Maxwell family.
Indeed, family is what Connie Maxwell is. The staff comprises a large family who want God’s best for every child He entrusts to their care as they unitedly “Cross the Threshold” into more significant childhood trauma healing.
As Jones transitions into her retirement season, she denies having any one favorite memory because every day and every girl has been precious to her. She reaffirms this sentiment: “It’s been a blessing to work with Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministry, and it’s been a blessing to me to work with the girls I work with.”
To confirm what a blessing Jones has been to us, Connie Maxwell President Danny Nicholson shared, “Rhetta will be missed for her steady, dependable, and compassionate commitment to the children for so very long! It’s hard to find servants who are both talented and committed beyond the call of duty. Rhetta is one who has both talent and commitment. No doubt her name will be in Heaven’s Hall of Fame!”
