Interested in giving to the Star Center Children's Theatre?
Text OurLoveJones to 67777 on your smartphone. (no spaces)
Visit TXTourREGISTRY.com, click on “Gift Giving Made Easy” and enter OurLoveJones
Newlyweds give back
Recipient is the Star Center Children's Theatre, which is trying to buy the building it is leasing
C'Javia Jones, left, and Malik Moore from the Star Center Children's Theatre perform for reception guests as Jessie and Ellen Jones, the bride and groom, look on. (Special to the Guardian)
Special to the Guardian
Published: Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 2:53 p.m.
Jessie and Elena Jones say their love has come full circle.
And on the Sunday before the Labor Day holiday, the Gainesville High School sweethearts, who met 22 years ago, got married in Gainesville, blended two families of children ages 11 to 19 and relocated to Memphis.
But instead of registering for pots, pans and pricey china, the couple is giving back to the Gainesville community by asking friends, family and community members to kick-start a capital fundraising campaign for the Star Center Children's Theatre.
Both Elena Jones, a former bank executive turned personal fitness guru, and Jessie Jones, a senior chief in the U.S. Navy, attribute much of their personal and professional success to the community that raised them. They also are the co-owners of FitBody LLC, a fitness training boot camp,
"We have always invested our sweat equity in community and economic development in the cities that we've lived in, both professionally and through outreach," said Jessie Jones.
At their wedding, they asked for monetary gifts only, which were all donated to the Star Center, and they have even included a text registry component to allow more people to participate in the fundraising effort to help the Star Center purchase the property that it currently leases at 608 N. Main St.
