In Memory

Martha Jones

Dr. Martha Ann Jones
Oct. 6, 1945 - Nov. 13, 2016
Macon, GA- Dr. Martha Ann Jones, a longtime resident of Macon, GA died Sunday the 13th of November.
Born in Macon in 1945, Martha was one of two daughters of Lee and Marguerite Jones. She graduated from A.L. Miller High School and received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Mercer University before pursuing and receiving an Ed. S degree in Communicative Arts, and ultimately a Doctorate degree from the University of Georgia in 1989.
She was a long time Spanish and English teacher at Macon's Central High School and Southwest High School, Director of Publicity for Bibb County Schools and retired as the Principal at Miller Middle School, where she led an at-risk, failing school to become an acclaimed Core Knowledge National School of Excellence. Teaching was a lifelong passion.
Over the course of her life, she also proudly supported her community and those in need, as a philanthropist and serving on Civic Boards, playing a key role in the development of the Georgia Children's Museum in Macon. A gifted writer and communicator, Martha inspired those around her to value education, always read and never stop learning.
To know Martha was to know that she was fiercely devoted to anything she committed to. Above all, that meant her family, her beloved animals and anyone she considered an 'underdog.' She would help anyone who needed it, period! In her last months she was continuing that commitment by volunteering to take care of the animals at PetSmart and by teaching English to immigrants.
In addition to loving anything that grows (plants and flowers), she loved travel. She and her sister Judy, took immense pleasure from travelling the world since her retirement, including trips to Europe, Africa, China, Australia and Italy. One of her greatest memories was from their African safari, where she held baby lions.
Finally, she loved one of the most sacred places in her family, the Lee Jones Cabin, built by her father and family members 51 years ago in the Talladega National Forest.
She is survived by her sister Judith Jones Greene, her children Thomas F. Jones and Melissa Jones, her beloved granddaughter Abby Jones, her niece and nephew Mary Elizabeth Luzier and David Epps and four grandnephews and grandnieces.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Martha's name to Circle of Friends Animal Society.
Martha's funeral service will be 1 pm CST Wednesday November 16, at Heritage Baptist Church, Heflin, AL with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Dryden Funeral Home of Heflin is in charge of arrangements.