Jean Ann Kight Jones peacefully left this life on October 28, 2024.
She was born on April 12, 1928, in Malvern, Arkansas, the
daughter of Kenneth Kelso Kight and Mildred Guisinger Kight.
She was the widow of Blanton Johns Jones, to whom she was
married 58 years before his death. They were married in 1951
and lived in Marshall County, Holly Springs or Byhalia, most of
their married life, with a brief sojourn in Texas. Together they had
four children that she leaves behind: Christy Dale Jones; Stephen
Blanton Jones (Kathryn Brazil); Kenneth Howard Jones (Rebecca
Jones), and Debra LeAnn Priebe (James Andrew Priebe).
Mrs. Jones spent her early years in Malvern, and then attended
and graduated from the University of Arkansas, magna cum
laude. While at the University, she was a member of Zeta Tau
Alpha, President of the Association of Women Students,
President of Mortar Board, and Sweetheart of Pi Kappa Alpha. A
lifelong Razorback, she was known to call the Hogs in public
places, and always answered if she heard the famous “Woo Pig
Sooie!” So well known were her loyalties, that her Ole Miss
“friends” placed a wreath with tequila bottles and pigs feet on our
front porch when the Hogs lost a controversial game to Ole Miss
10-7.
Mrs. Jones loved life and never wanted to miss out on anything;
she was also very gifted. She was a talented seamstress and
needle pointer, and she needle pointed many of the cushions and
chairs at the First Presbyterian Church, of which she was a
member over 70 years. She also taught smocking and smocked
clothes for all of her grandchildren, later worn by her great
grandchildren. Mrs. Jones was also a member of Town and
Country Garden Club, active in the restoration of the historical
house and meeting place, and an excellent flower arranger. She
played bridge every Wednesday afternoon, and competed on the
duplicate bridge circuit for years. She was also a superb cook
and enjoyed entertaining.
And she loved to travel. That love probably began as a child when
she grew up traveling to Mexico with her parents. Mrs. Jones
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with her husband on a
cruise to Alaska, and travelled with Blanton throughout the United
States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. She also
had the pleasure of traveling to Europe and Asia. And for 20
years, she made an annual trip to New York at Christmas with her
daughters.
But most of her life was devoted to caring for family. All of her
children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren gathered every
Thanksgiving and Christmas with her, and usually for the family
dove hunt on Labor Day. To the extent possible, she was present
for every baptism, dedication, or blessing; every football, baseball
or basketball game; every homecoming, graduation; recognition,
and every wedding. She made her home the destination for
“sweet sixteen parties” and graduation celebrations, and knew all
of her children’s friends. She loved entertaining her grandchildren,
who knew her as “Nan”, surprising Kight with a parakeet when he
lost his first tooth, noting that she had a “helluva good time” sitting
between Chase and Clint on her 80th birthday, dancing the
jitterbug with Chase at Clint’s wedding, and waltzing with Blanton
at Chase’s wedding. And at the end of the day, she would say, “A
good time was had by all!” We have been blessed.
Mrs. Jones is survived by seven grandchildren whom she adored:
Stephen Kight Jones (Stephanie); Charles Blanton (Chase) Jones
(Mary Beth); Richard Clinton (Clint) Jones (McKenna); Abby
Kathryn Jones; James Pearce Priebe, Christy Laralei Priebe, and
Robert Blanton Priebe. In addition, she leaves behind six great
grandchildren: Brandt Stephen Jones, Annie Lee Jones, Lawson
Rutledge Jones, Mary Charles Jones, Loxley Cathryn Jones, and
Cooper Blanton Jones.
Jean Ann was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her
brother, Rodney Dale Kight. The family would like to acknowledge
and thank Mrs. Jones’ caregivers who cared for her for years and
became family: Loretta Brown, Shirley Washington Grigsby,
Sonya Elliott, Maxine Hoyle and Annie’Jones.
A memorial service of celebration will be held at the First
Presbytern Church in Holly Springs on Friday, November 1, 2024, at noon, with visitation
beginning at 11:00 am, and continuing until service time
.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed
to First Presbyterian Church in Holly Springs (164 S Memphis Street, Holly Springs, MS 38635).`