Priscilla Massey Jones

Priscilla Massey Jones, 47, of Ocala, FL passed away on July 1, 2024. She was born October 12, 1976 in RAF Lakenheath, England, United Kingdom to John Boston Massey and Deborah Adamson Massey. Being part of a military family, Priscilla lived in multiple cities around the country including Omaha, NE; El Paso, TX; Auburn, AL; and O’Fallon, IL. She was a 1995 graduate of O’Fallon Township High School where she was involved in Show Choir, Madrigals, Model UN and various academic clubs. Priscilla later attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, majoring in chemistry. When she was not in the chemistry lab, Priscilla worked as a fitness instructor at the on-campus student gym which fueled her passion for the health and fitness industry. She went on to graduate with honors in 1999.

In her earlier years, Priscilla loved to sing and dance. She was a dedicated student at the Adams School of Dance in O’Fallon, IL practicing ballet, tap and jazz. She later went on to perform in the OTHS Show choir where she was a leader in several performances over the years. After high school, Priscilla competed in several pageants throughout the state of Illinois where she received top placements including runner-up in Miss Illinois.

After college, Priscilla went to work for Kimberly-Clark in Atlanta, GA. She had taken an internship within her junior year of college and was welcomed into the company as a full-time employee in 1999. Priscilla met her husband, Brian Jones, in Atlanta and they were married in Sept 1999. They had their first child, Julius, in Atlanta and then later relocated to Florida. After living in a few cities in Florida they settled in Ocala where Priscilla and Brian went on to have three more children Cassandra, Evan and Giselle.

Priscilla was a loving and dedicated mother and stayed home the first couple of years when the older three children were born. She then began her career in the health and fitness industry by going back to her roots as a fitness instructor but this time at the local Ocala YMCA. This is where she began inspiring locals to get serious about their health. After many years of coaching, Priscilla and Brian decided to open a CrossFit gym, CrossFit 1088 in Ocala, FL. This gym was a gathering place where many locals of all ages felt welcomed to work hard during the workouts but also have a sense of community. Priscilla made a huge impact with the members over the years as a founding leader of CrossFit 1088. She sold the gym in March of 2023 and used her experience with running a business to begin her own bookkeeping business, Faithful Steward Bookkeeping. When Priscilla was not working, she enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, and walks at the Greenway Park in Ocala.

A very important part of Priscilla’s life was being a faithful follower of Christ. She attended Good News Church of Ocala with her children, where she led bible study, served in KidZone, and spoke life into the people around her. In the summer of 2022, Priscilla was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She fought hard and was in remission by the spring of 2023 but by the fall it had returned. After a tough battle, Priscilla peacefully passed away at home surrounded by loved ones. She took every opportunity to share her faith, choosing even in the hardest moments to minister to those around her. “When we are confronted with a crisis, our response will show what we believe to be true about God. I believe that He is good in all circumstances.” Her faith carried her through it all and she was smiling as she met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She is survived by her husband, Brian Anthony Jones; their four children, Julius Anthony Jones, Cassandra Whitney Jones, Evan Emmanuel Jones, and Giselle Alair Jones; her mother, Deborah Adamson Massey; and her sister, Lori Olivia Massey.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Boston Massey; her aunt, Linda Jane Massey; and her grandparents, Boston and Esther Massey and Oscar Charles and Gladys Adamson.