Jill Marie Jones, known for her role as Antoinette “Toni” Childs-Garrett in the hit sitcom Girlfriends, recently experienced her first Christmas without her mother, Gloria Underwood Jones, who passed away earlier this year. The actress shared on Instagram how her former co-star and TV husband, Jason Pace, helped her through the difficult holiday.
Pace, who played Dr. Todd Garrett on Girlfriends, invited Jones to spend Christmas with him and his family. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Jones expressed her gratitude for Pace’s kindness and support. “Being completely transparent… yesterday was a bit rough for me… it being the first Christmas without my Mom,” she wrote. She then detailed how Pace called to check on her and invited her to dinner.
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Jones shared details of the evening, highlighting the culinary talents of Pace’s 17-year-old daughter, Sarah, who cooked the entire meal, including a pie that Jones enthusiastically declared “SLAPPED!!!” The evening also included a trip down memory lane, as Pace’s sons, who had never seen their father on Girlfriends, watched episodes of the show with Jones. “I was also made aware that his sons (Jake and Dean) had never seen their father on Girlfriends… so I definitely had to change that! LOL!!! We watched a couple,” Jones shared.
Girlfriends creator Mara Brock Akil responded to Jones’ post with a message of support. “This is beautiful… how love shows up in our lives is the magic of life. Big hug @itsmejillmarie and another to @thejasonpace. Made me smile seeing you two together!” Akil commented.
The Instagram post included several photos and videos from the evening, showcasing the warm and festive atmosphere. One video showed Pace searching for a specific tea for Jones, while another captured his son proudly sharing that his sister had prepared the meal.
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Girlfriends, which aired from 2000 to 2008, centered on the lives of four Black women navigating life and friendship in Los Angeles. The show garnered a loyal following and found renewed popularity when it began streaming on Netflix in 2020. The show’s arrival on the platform was part of Netflix’s Strong Black Lead initiative, aimed at showcasing more Black-led content. The initiative was a response to viewer demand for classic Black television shows. The success of Girlfriends on Netflix underscores the enduring appeal of the sitcom and its continued relevance to audiences today.
