Mrs. Isabella Doris (Jones) Sloan

Mrs. John W. Sloan received the gift of her lifelong faith as she transitioned into the Arms of Jesus on September 2, 2025. Mother Sloan was received into heaven just eight weeks before her 104th Birthday. She was born Isabella Doris Jones on November 2, 1921, to Katie Watkins and Issac Jones in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mother Sloan was raised by her maternal grandparents, Abner and Isabella Watkin in Danville Virginia. She returned to Pittsburgh in 1932 to live with her mother Katie and stepfather, Lenwood Thomas. Isabella Jones graduated from Schenley High School in Pittsburgh where she participated in a variety of activities including the swimming team. Through sports, she met John W. Sloan, whom she married in 1942. They were married for 65 years during which they raised four daughters, Beverly Smith, Doris (Cookie)Palacios, Joanne Haynes, and Joyce Sloan, and two sons, George and Lenwood Sloan. The Sloan Family resided in Pittsburgh’s Broadhead Manor, Hill District, Homewood, and in Wilkinsburg, PA. While John W. Sloan pursued a career in construction and steelworks, Mother Sloan achieved prominence as a domestic housekeeper and cook. She leveraged that skill into a career as dietician and house mother at the University of Pittsburgh. Her entrepreneurial skills led to her development of a private catering business with a colleague, neighbor, and friend, Judy Cephas. Mother Sloan’s devotion to service leadership was reflected in her volunteer work at the Pittsburgh Harriet Tubman House and YWCA Homewood- Brushton Branch. John W. Sloan, a Prince Hall Mason and Shriner, ascended to heaven in 2007. Thereafter, Mother Sloan resided under the care of her four daughters in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. The family would like to thank Dr. Richard Rayner, nurse Jennifer, and home care assistants, Tracy Warren and Beverly Gray, for their expert service and support for Mother Sloan’s medical needs. During her incredible life span, her devotion to God was increased through her membership at Pittsburgh’s Friendship Baptist Church, Mt. Ararat Baptist, and Harrisburg’s Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church. The family extends our deepest appreciation to The Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church for providing pastoral care throughout Mother Sloan’s sojourn in Central Pennsylvania. Isabella Sloan was a fierce advocate of the right to vote. She cast her ballot in every primary and general Pennsylvania election from her 21st birthday in 1942 until the 2025 Pennsylvania primary. Love of God, hard work, education, progress, and enterprise were the standards of achievement she required from all those she shepherded. One of her many favorite spiritual praise songs was “If I can help somebody, then my living shall not be in vain.” She truly “lived” her song. Our dear Isabella’s favorite scripture was Psalm 37:25: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.” Mother Sloan is survived by six children, nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, sons and daughters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, adopted children, and a host of extended family who were blessed by her prayers and stewardship. Isabella Doris Jones Sloan once dreamt that she was sitting in church and a door opened on the side of the building. She went through it and into a garden where Jesus waited on a bench. Isabella stayed in the garden until sunset. Jesus invited Isabella to stay there forever. But Mother Sloan replied that there was still work to do and she had to return to her children. Jesus said, “Come back when you are ready.” Free at last, Isabella is in the Garden now! FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLICK ON THE SHARE A MEMORY TAB TO POST VIDEOS, SHARE MEMORIES, CONDOLENCES, REFLECTIONS OR SIMPLY LEAVE YOUR NAME.

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Mrs. Isabella Doris (Jones) Sloan

November 2, 1921 - September 2, 2025