Nancy Reese Jones, 85, of Manchester, TN, formerly of Newport News, VA, entered into God’s eternal embrace Tuesday, January 20, 2015 after a brief illness. The daughter of Hampton Chapell Reese and Hattie Newton Reese Mangum, Mrs. Jones was born in Petersburg, VA on September 20, 1929, and was a long-time member of the Orcutt Baptist Church in Newport News. After graduation from Newport News High School in 1947, she met and married the love of her life, Ralph Raymond Jones, Jr. While waiting for him to return from military service in Korea, she worked for the telephone company as an operator. After the birth of their son in 1952, Mrs. Jones served in numerous volunteer roles including supporting local hospitals as a ‘pink lady’ and as a Cub Scout den leader. She also worked for many years as the bookkeeper for the family business, R. R. Jones Furniture, Inc. in Newport News. Prior to moving from Virginia to Tennessee, Mrs. Jones was also an active supporter of the local Meals on Wheels program and the Peninsula Rescue Mission. As a member of the Comte de Grasse chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Yorktown, she served proudly as an officer in the chapter for several years. In 2006 Mr. and Mrs. Jones moved to Manchester to be closer to family where they became members of First Presbyterian Church. She was very involved in church activities, Hospice Compassus and the Manchester Good Samaritan Ministry.
Mrs. Jones is preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 62 years. She is survived by a son, Ralph Raymond Jones III and his wife, Fay, of Manchester; two grandsons, Thomas Chappel Jones of Grapevine, TX, and Benjamin Trevor Jones of Milwaukee, WI, and his wife Maggie; a great grandson, Reece Chappel Jones; a niece Patsy Pride, her husband Robert and son Che of Poquoson, VA; and a nephew Billy Pat Jones and his wife Linda of Newport News. In addition, Mrs. Jones was excitedly awaiting the arrival of a great granddaughter in March.
A private graveside service will be held in Peninsula Memorial Park in Newport News with Rev Ken Trinkle officiating. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date at First Presbyterian Church in Manchester with Rev CJ Thompson officiating. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made either to First Presbyterian Church of Manchester, 1101 Jackson Street, Manchester, TN 37355 or the Good Samaritan Ministry of Manchester, P.O. Box 281, Manchester, TN 37349. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by her family and her Church. CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME of Manchester, Tennessee in Charge of Arrangements