Mrs. Betty R. Jones

Mrs. Betty R. Jones 07/26/1933-02/06/2024 Mrs. Betty Ray Jones passed away Tuesday, February 6, 2024 peacefully at her home in Parrottsville. Betty was born July 26, 1933 in Sikeston, MO. Her father, Lawrence Ray, served as a Southern Baptist pastor for over 60 years. Betty faced a challenge early in her life with Rheumatic Fever. She is a breast and thyroid cancer survivor. Upon graduating high school, she ventured to St. Louis where she worked as a civilian employee of the Air Force. She later moved to Memphis, TN where she worked as a secretary. There, she met the love of her life, Bill Jones. They were married December 28th, 1956. In 1959, they welcomed their only child, Larry. When Larry began school, she attended Memphis State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She taught several years in the Shelby County school system. In 1972, the family moved to Newport. She served as the Librarian and taught Sociology and Psychology at Cosby School. Upon her retirement, she began working at the Cocke County Schools Central Office where she helped other schools in the county modernize their libraries. Betty has always had a heart for children and for helping others. She has served as a Scout mother, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School director, and any other place she could use her indefatigable energy to help others. She was the co-teacher for her Sunday School class until December 2023, when her illness prevented her from attendance. She served as the church clerk at First Baptist Church, Newport for many years. She was also the Cocke County coordinator for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She was the treasurer of the Cocke County Retired Teacher’s Association. She was also on the Stokely Memorial Library Board. She volunteered at Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice where she worked until one month before her death. She also loved to invest in foreign missions having contributed to mission projects in Belize a number of years. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Mary Ray, her husband, Bill and her younger sister, Billie Sue Fair. Survivors include: her son Larry (Angie), her grandson Adam, in whom she delighted, her older brother, Howard, two nieces, one nephew and numerous cousins. Special thanks to Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice for their amazing care and to her special caretaker Lecole Noland for numerous hours assisting the family. Betty loved her family, her church and her friends. The funeral service will be held at 6:00 P.M. Thursday evening February 8, 2024, in the Costner-Maloy & Brown Funeral Home Chapel. With Pastor Larry Jones and Dr. Rich Lloyd officiating. The family and friends will meet 10:45 A.M. Friday at Resthaven Memorial Gardens for the 11:00 A.M. interment. The family will receive friends from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Thursday evening at Costner-Maloy & Brown Funeral Home prior to the service. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Costner-Maloy & Brown Funeral Home.Read Obituary