Linda Mays Jones

Linda Ann Mays Jones (d. December 24, 2019) was born October 8, 1950 in Mobile, Alabama. She grew up in Creola, Alabama, graduated from Satsuma High School, and received a BA in English and History, followed by an MA in History, from Auburn University. Linda earned additional certifications during her 33 years as a teacher and administrator at Shades Valley High School, first serving as as a history teacher and college advisor at Jefferson County Resource Learning Center (RLC), and later as an assistant principal at SVHS concurrent with her duties as Coordinator and College Advisor for the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School. Though Linda never bragged about it, in 2005 she led JCIB to the rank of #1 in the annual Newsweek poll of "The 100 Best High Schools in America". Needless to say, she touched the lives of many.

Linda traveled extensively, both as a presenter in the College Board’s AP program, and with her family. She visited all 50 states, England and Scotland, parts of Canada, and the Caribbean. Linda also read biographies, enjoyed cooking, and always had a needlepoint project within arm’s reach. But all this paled in comparison to the love she had for her husband, her children, and her grandchildren. She was was very proud of her two sons Lee and Andy...despite her disappointment they both married University of Alabama fans, Mia Poston (Andy) and Elizabeth Orr (Lee).

Linda’s grandchildren, Malcolm Poston, Louisa Poston, Everett Jones, and Althea Jones were monolithic in her life, as evidenced by the astronomical amount of pictures she displayed throughout her house, how tightly she hugged them each time they met, and how she bragged about them while swimming laps with her friends at the YMCA. Their parents will ensure they know all about Grandma Lindy’s love for them.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents Everett Lee Mays and Jean Woolley Mays and one grandson, Everett John Jones. She will be missed by her husband of 46 years, Robert “Bob” Aston Jones, Jr, her sons Lee Aston Jones (Elizabeth Orr Jones, granddaughter Althea Charlotte Jones) and Andrew Stuart Jones (Sarah Marisa "Mia" Poston, grandson Malcolm Jones Poston, and granddaughter Louisa Jones Poston), her sister Lisa Carol Mays Dowdy, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Celebrate Linda’s life on Saturday, December 28 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home, located at 475 Cahaba Valley Road (Hwy 119) in Pelham, Alabama. Visitation (with light refreshments) will be from Noon until 2:00, and a service will follow.