Mary Linda Lee Jones

Linda was born in Forsyth, Georgia on February 4, 1947and passed away on September 23, 2017. She was predeceased by her parents, Dr. Robert Charles and Mary Lina Fellers Lee. She graduated from P.K. Yonge Laboratory School in Gainesville, Florida in 1965 and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Florida Atlantic University and a Master’s Degree in Reading from the University of South Florida. She was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society for her outstanding excellence in the field of education. She taught elementary school for almost 40 years in Hillsborough County Public Schools as a classroom teacher, lead teacher, and reading and writing specialist. She always treated her students with respect and encouraged them to value the importance of education in their lives. Her reading projects, which included parents and children, were recognized by the county as a model for parent involvement. For many years, she also took her students to a local nursing home to read to the residents. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and role model for many people. Her sisters called her “Bubbles” because of her positive attitude and encouraging outlook on life. Linda loved both salt water and fresh water fishing and spent hours on Lake Wauburg and St. Pete Beach. When it was time to call it a day, she always said, “Just give me five more minutes to fish, just five more minutes, and I’ll be ready.” She also spent hours with her family out in hot, plowed fields searching for arrowheads and Native American artifacts. Linda is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years, Phillip Garrett Jones, son: Phillip Joshua Jones, and precious grandson, Garrett Lee Jones. Three sisters, Nancy L. Keene, Frances (Becky) Feaster, Julia (Judy) O’Connell and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Blount & Curry Funeral Home Carrollwood, 3207 W. Bearss Avenue in Tampa, Florida from 4:00-8:00 on Sunday afternoon, October 1, 2017. Dr. Larry Sykes will be providing a short prayer service at 6:00 PM. Graveside interment will be officiated by Dr. Sykes at the Shiloh United Methodist Church Cemetery, 10650 N.W. Highway 320, Micanopy, FL. 32667 on Monday, October 2, 2017 at 12:00. A reception will be held after the interment at the church reception hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Linda’s memory to the Shiloh United Methodist Church (Shiloh UMC) Children’s Home Fund. 10650 N.W. Highway 320, Micanopy, FL. 32667. Loving remembrances may be expressed at www.BlountCurryCarrollwood.com.