Sister Love: Music, Shared Stories United Siblings

Twin sisters make their way to the piano. As Coretta Jones plays the prelude to “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” her sister, Loretta Jones-Gafford, joins in singing the first stanza.

The song could be the theme music to two lives united in faith and family.

“We were each given the responsibility of looking out for ourselves and our sister and we have maintained that sense of dedication and responsibility throughout our lives,” Coretta said.

Their mother instructed them as children to always stay together. “We lived by that and I think that kind of bonded us together too,” Loretta said.

The two sisters are lifelong members a Disciples of Christ Church in Martinsville and visited The Summit for its dedication with friend, Alma Irvine, an early resident who passed away at 107 years old.

“We learned about The Summit in the early stages, but later on once the building was completed, two of our church members were among the first to come to The Summit,” Coretta said. “We became inspired and intrigued by the idea of moving here one day. It gave us the incentive that we might like to be here someday.”

Coretta worked in social services and Loretta retired as a college professor.

The sisters – born on Christmas Day – have lived together for most of their lives, separated only during graduate school and Loretta’s first marriage. The two later moved in together with their mother, who passed in 2022.

They decided to make The Summit home the following year with Loretta’s husband, James.

Coretta, Loretta and James worked to downsize their large home. “We found out a lot of the things we had we didn’t need to keep.” They maintained family heirlooms and in their transition found a box with their maternal grandfather’s things. He was a taxi driver and kept books with dates and fares. They also found the receipts for materials used to build his home. “He had an accounting for how many nails he placed in each door,” Coretta said.

The sisters are active in weekly worship services on campus and Coretta plays the piano once a month.

“We grew up around music.. Our grandmother was a singer in the church choir. Actually, she was the best singer in the choir and she would play and sing at home,” Coretta said.

At The Summit, they have found more than a home. “It just seems to have been a very good fit for us, especially at this time,” Loretta said.

“We are losing family and the residents have just become our family and we weren’t quite sure that would happen, but it has and it’s been a wonderful experience.”

All these years later, their sisterly bond remains strong. “I wish everybody would have, if not a twin, someone they are very close to,” Coretta said.