Celebrating Meghan 

On Saturday, July 12, the family of Robert and Sylvia Jones will host a Celebration of Life for their daughter Meghan Jones, who died January 8 of this year. An unforgettable presence in our community, Meghan is missed by all who knew her.
Meghan Mckee Jones was born on February 17, 1989. As Robert and Sylvia’s eldest daughter, she was the big sister to Caitlin and Alex. 
Meghan worked at her local Giant on Hungerford Drive for more than 15 years. She graduated from Montgomery College with a certificate in Sign Language, completing the coursework in just over four years, one course at a time.
She was a founding Board member of UpCounty Community Resources, a member of the Maryland Disabilities Council, worked as a staffer for the ADA Mid-Atlantic Conference for three years and receptionist at Transcen.  She lived independently in Rockville. She also happens to have been born with Down Syndrome.
Meghan was an extraordinary individual but above all, she advocated for herself, her community and for those with no voice. Her list of advocacy engagements was long, as she testified before the Montgomery County Housing Authority, the Montgomery County Council, the Maryland General Assembly and the U.S. Congress. She was passionate in her desire to share her story.
Meghan loved life.

The Jones family invites friends and loved ones to celebrate her life during a funeral Mass at 11 am Saturday, July 12, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 6701 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855, followed by a reception in the Parish Center. Overflow parking is available at Redland Middle School. Please dress comfortably and colorfully. Please RSVP below to indicate if you plan to attend the Mass and reception, so the family can plan for food.
If you wish to make a donation (no flowers please) consider the UpCounty Community Resources Scholarship fund or to a special  fund to create a playground at St. Francis, accessible for all children.
​ Please contact the St. Francis Parish Office at (301) 840-1407 for more information.  
Thank you all for your prayers and kindness. May the soul of Meghan rest in peace.

Message from Governor Moore 

The First Lady and I are heartbroken to hear of Meghan Jones's passing.
As Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council's Vice Chair, Meghan played an important role in advocating for Maryland's disability community. She lived by the motto: “Nothing about us, without us” because she didn't believe in only pointing out problems. She believed in being an active part of the solution. Her kindness, her tireless dedication, and her friendship will be missed by so many throughout this state.
We are keeping Meghan, her family and friends, and the Council in our prayers.

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Tribute from Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council: 
​The Council's story is one of advocacy and creating change for the DD community. As our vice chair, Meghan Jones played a big role in this mission. She was an incredible advocate not just for herself, but for all Marylanders with disabilities. We mourn the loss of this dynamic advocate and leader and incredible person.
Meghan's journey with the Council began in 2017 when she joined us as a passionate advocate. She was elected vice chair in 2022. Her voice echoed in Annapolis, where she testified multiple times, including on a bill just last year that removed harmful, outdated language from our state laws. Meghan’s story of leadership was also recognized in July when she was inducted into the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) Self-Advocate Leadership Circle—an honor reflecting the impact of her tireless work.
Governor Moore also acknowledged Meghan with deep respect during an executive order signing last summer, saying: “When the story of this state is written, [Meghan’s] name will be in lights.” We couldn't agree more.
Meghan’s laughter, kindness, leadership, and dedication to self-advocacy will be missed. We will continue the story of advocacy and change through our work. Her memory will guide and motivate us as we move forward. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all those who loved her.

Tribute from Meghan's life-long pastor Fr. John at St. Francis of Assisi Church.

January 16, 2025
Dear Friends in Christ,
Like many of you, I have been deeply affected by the passing of one of our parish’s most vibrant young people, Meghan Jones, who died January 8 after a brief respiratory illness. A ubiquitous presence in the life of our faith community, Meghan could be seen serving at the altar, contributing at youth group leadership meetings, shooting baskets at the Hoops for Haiti basketball event, and passing the collection basket at Mass. Born with Down Syndrome, she achieved extraordinary things in her 35 years on this Earth and did them with optimism, perseverance, and a belief in herself that I truly admired.
 
Meghan was trained as an altar server some 25 years ago and had the distinction of being our parish’s longest serving server. In high school, she became a lector and was invited in 2015 to read the Second Reading at the Canonization Mass for Blessed Junipero Serra that Pope Francis celebrated on the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. In 2023, she completed an American Sign Language certificate program at Montgomery College, enabling her to interpret readings, homilies and hymns during our Masses for the Deaf and hard of hearing. Several people have told me how blessed they felt to have watched her sign “Silent Night” at the 10:30 pm Christmas Mass last month, a testament to her passion and work ethic.
As Christians, we are called to advocate for policies and laws impacting Catholic social teaching, which encapsulate the importance of building a just society amid the challenges of modern society. The central teaching -- protecting the life and dignity of the human person -- is one to which Meghan dedicated herself as a leader in the disability community. She served as vice chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, testifying numerous times on state legislation that impacts people with special needs. She served on the board of Upcounty Community Resources, an organization bringing people with developmental and intellectual differences into all areas of community life. She modeled for her peers how one fully lives life, be that cooking for oneself at home or enjoying a night out with friends.
So much in Meghan’s life is admirable, but two things stick out for me. First, her embrace of her Baptismal call to use her talents in service to the church. Meghan knew the blessings God had given her and shared them in countless ways to build up our body of Christ. Second, her gift as a joyful and enthusiastic evangelizer, stemming from a deeply held faith. Director of Liturgy Joan Treacy tells a story about how Meghan once talked to an airplane seatmate about God and the Church; before they parted ways, the passenger told Meghan he was thinking about returning to church after speaking with her.
By bringing her smile, zest for life, and natural leadership skills to every encounter, Meghan showed us the bountiful gifts any person, but especially people with special needs, have to offer. Her presence on the altar fostered a sense of belonging for people with special needs, showing them they have a home here and teaching us to open our hearts, our ministries, and minds to what members of this community can contribute. It’s a lesson we know and try to live in countless ways here.
Although we mourn Meghan today, we also treasure the example of dedicated service and Christian leadership she practiced. As we pray with the Jones family, may we remember this exceptional young woman and the gifts she bore at our church and in our world. The family does not have any immediate funeral plans for Meghan, but is planning a celebration of her life, likely this summer.
I wish you the peace of Christ and a blessed and wonderful week.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. John