Hiyam S. Jones

Hiyam Sbitany Jones, 76, of Punta Gorda, Florida died November 30, 2020. Born on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Palestine June 17, 1944, she was the daughter of Mohammad and Mahbubah Sbitany, and the youngest of four children, Judah, Sami, and Nabil. Hiyam attended Schmidt’s Girls College as a boarding student outside the Old City of Jerusalem’s Damascus Gates from K-8th grade. She transferred to Friends Girls’ School in Ramallah in the 9th grade where she continued boarding until the 12th grade. She eventually followed her brothers to the United States completing her education at the Friends Girls’ School in Washington D.C., graduating in 1965. Hiyam went on to attend the University of Virginia receiving her Associate's Degree, with a concentration in mathematics. During this time, she met and married her husband of nearly 54 years, Jerry Keith Jones, on December 5, 1966, and moved to Arlington, Virginia. Hiyam began her career with MacGraw-Hill in the accounting department following graduation and received her citizenship. The couple had their first child, Pamela Marie, on September 12, 1967, and moved to Saint Petersburg, Florida in 1968. They had their second child, David Yount, on December 2, 1969, and the family settled in the Shore Acres area of Saint Petersburg. She returned to work as the Coordinator and Office Manager for the Art Center of St. Petersburg from 1974-1980. She then worked at the Saint Petersburg Times as a Classified Advertisement Specialist until 1984 winning both bronze and gold medals for yearly sales in consecutive years then later worked as Purchasing Agent and Accountant for Zeiss Framing Studio and Gallery until 1988. With an empty nest, Hiyam began an illustrious career with the Woolworth Corporation as Retail Manager for Kids Mart in the Tyrone area of Saint Petersburg. After winning Rookie of the Year, she went on to win Manager of the Year from 1991-1997 for the nationwide chain and was promoted to Manager Trainer and New Store Merchandiser. She moved to Punta Gorda, Florida in June 2000 to help raise her grandchildren, Olivia and James Humpel. When they began school she joined them as a teacher’s assistant at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Port Charlotte where she remained until October of 2020. Hiyam is survived by her husband Jerry, daughter Pamela (Robert Joseph Humpel), son David (Barbara Elizabeth Haycraft), grandchildren Brandon Mayberry, Olivia Humpel, James Humpel and brother, Sami Sbitani and half brother Samir Sbitany. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Judah and Nabil, granddaughter Cali Ann Strickler, and half-sister Eva Sbitany. She was laid to rest at the Sarasota National Cemetery on December 3, 2020. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School or the Islamic Community of SouthWest Florida.