For about 50 years -- 30 of them in Cape Girardeau -- Janice Jones has been working in the field of early childhood education. Jones is retiring as coordinator of United Way of Southeast Missouri's Success By 6 program, effective today.

"It's just time. I really hate to leave; I enjoy it, but there are some things with my family that I want to do," Jones said, adding she still plans to volunteer in the community.

"... We've got some really wonderful early childhood people in the community," said Jones, who has been in her job for almost seven years. "I know that they'll continue to work and advocate for our families and our children."

A Memphis, Tennessee, native, Jones earned a bachelor's degree in education from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and her master's in education from Southeast Missouri State University with an emphasis in early childhood.

Some of Jones' past work experiences include teaching first grade in Louisville, Kentucky; at a Department of Defense school in Germany; and in public schools and other early childhood-related programs, such as Cape Girardeau Head Start Center.

"My mother was a teacher, my grandmother was a teacher, my dad was a teacher at one time -- so even when I was young ... that was what I wanted to do, was be a teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the classroom," Jones said.

United Way of Southeast Missouri executive director Nancy Jernigan said the organization has been fortunate to have Jones as long it has, because she has so much knowledge about early childhood education.

"She's such a good person; never an unkind work comes out of her mouth. She's just good as gold. She has high standards and really, really cares," Jernigan said.

She and her husband, Roy, a minister, have two children and three grandchildren.