Mary Jones

Mary Elizabeth Jones, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, servant of Christ, and pillar of her community, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of faith, kindness, service, and unconditional love.

Born Mary Elizabeth Morrow on September 23, 1928, in Grant, Alabama, Mary was the daughter of a proud Alabama family and grew up alongside her two brothers, John Morrow and Charles Morrow, who would later serve their country through military careers as a pilot and aircraft mechanic. She attended the Grant DAR School, where she completed her education from elementary through high school.

After graduation, Mary moved to Auburn to attend Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), where she studied Interior Design. It was there that she met the love of her life, Paul Jones. Following her graduation, the two were married and began a remarkable journey together.

Paul's career brought them to Atlanta, where Mary worked for the Georgia Art Company, combining her love of design and creativity with her professional talents. In 1952, they made their home in Doraville, long before Buford Highway became the bustling corridor it is today—when, as Mary often recalled, it was still a dirt road.

Together, Mary and Paul raised four children; Raymond (Nancy) Jones, Bruce Jones, Rebecca (Charles) Boyd, Jerome (Kristen) Jones. As her family grew, Mary chose to devote herself to raising her children while continuing to help support the household by operating an in-home daycare. Throughout the years, she cared for countless children, including many teachers' children, becoming a loving second mother to so many. The impact of her nurturing spirit extended far beyond her own family.

Mary's faith was the foundation of her life. As a founding member of Northwoods United Methodist Church, she was the heart and soul of the congregation for decades. She faithfully served in countless ways, sewing beautiful banners for Christmas and Easter programs, creating cancer comfort blankets for those facing illness, serving as a den mother, knocking on doors to welcome new church members, making and distributing sandwiches to the homeless, and dedicating herself to countless acts of quiet service.

Her commitment to helping others extended throughout the community. Mary volunteered with Meals on Wheels, participated actively in the Mason Mill Senior Group, Doraville Seniors, and Chamblee Seniors, and brought joy, encouragement, and friendship to everyone she encountered.

Mary was also a gifted artist. An accomplished oil painter and art restorer, she spent many years restoring treasured works of art through the Georgia Art Company during the 1970s and 1980s. Her creativity extended into every aspect of her life, from sewing and decorating to gardening. Her flower and vegetable gardens were admired by many, and her famous fried okra became a cherished favorite among family, friends, and neighbors alike.

Mary embodied Christian love through action rather than words alone. She sought not only to learn the Gospel but to live it every day. Through her generosity, humility, compassion, and unwavering faith, she touched countless lives. To many, she was truly an angel among us.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 44 years, Paul Jones, and her brothers, John Morrow and Charles Morrow. She leaves behind her four children; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and an extended family of friends, church members, neighbors, and community members who were blessed by her presence.

Though her passing leaves a tremendous void, her legacy lives on in the lives she nurtured, the faith she modeled, the beauty she created, and the love she so freely gave.

Mary, thank you for gracing us with your presence and for leaving this world better than you found it. You will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered