Funeral Services for Carolyn Mathis Jones were Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Jackson with burial following at Parkway Memorial Cemetery. Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Jones, 81, died Friday, Aug. 29, 2014, at Select Specialty Hospital in Jackson. She was born on Nov. 20, 1932, in Brookhaven to Eudell Allen Mathis and Prentiss Lamar Mathis.

She grew up in Brookhaven and graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1950. She graduated from Mississippi University for Women in 1954.

She worked at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. for a short period after college. She then returned to Mississippi to marry her high school sweetheart Ben Jones on March 20, 1955, in Brookhaven. She worked as a secretary for the Dean of the School of Accountancy until Ben finished his accounting degree in 1957. They moved to Jackson and Ben began his career with South Central Bell, which lasted until his retirement.

Carolyn and Ben raised four children and she managed the household in Jackson until 1977, when Ben was transferred to Louisville, Kentucky. They lived in Louisville until Ben’s retirement in 1988 and then moved back home to Mississippi and settled in Madison for the remainder of their lives.

She loved to sew for her children and grandchildren. She was a lifelong bridge enthusiast and enjoyed her many outings with friends in the Jackson area throughout her life. She also found great comfort in her family at First Baptist, especially following Ben’s death.

Preceding her in death was her husband of 48 years, Earl Benson “Ben” Jones.

Survivors are her four children, Vicki Jones Waldrop and her husband, Carl, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jennifer Jones Fairly and husband, Dan, of Brandon, Jeffery Mathis Jones and John Morris Jones; seven grandchildren, Chad Waldrop (Amber) and Matthew Waldrop (fiancée Kaylen), Daniel Fairly (Stefanie) and Christina Fairly Burrage (Ryan), Taylor Jones Greenhill (Caleb) and Cathrine Jones; two great-grandchildren, Lillian Waldrop and Knox Fairly; sister, Helen Mathis Smith and her husband, Freddie, of Brookhaven; brother, Meade Cassie Mathis and his wife, Floy, of Brookhaven; sister-in-law, Jeanette McVay of Huntsville, Alabama; and other beloved relatives.

The family requests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Jackson, 431 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39201 or the charity of your choice.