Barbara Sue Jones

It is with great sadness that the family of Barbara Jones announce she left her earthly home on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. She was 86 years old.

Born September 15, 1936, she is the daughter of the late Gus and Lucile Criswell Crawford. She grew up in Lenox, Tennessee in a small farming community in Dyer County. After graduating from Dyersburg High School, Barbara met and married Maurice Jones and went on to study and obtain her Bachelors of Science in Education from Bethel University, and Master’s degree from Memphis State University. She dedicated her working career to teaching fifth grade students of Dyer County and Dyersburg School Systems. Mrs. Jones could not go anywhere outside of school without being pulled aside and hugged by her many past students- she was affectionately a favorite and helped nurture a love for reading in children. As a testament to her excellence in teaching, she was named teacher of the year multiple times in several schools she taught, and runner-up for teacher of the year for the entire state of Tennessee in 1975.

Aside from her teaching career, Barbara was a steadfast believer in Jesus. She was involved in her church teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir. She had a love for learning and creating new things, and most recently co-authored a children’s book Earl the Squirrel, that has been published. To say she was artistic was an understatement- Barbara had an imagination for making beautiful things whether it was a bulletin board for school or costumes for her grandchildren. Every holiday was special and observed by her meticulous detail in decorating and the wonderful meals she would make. To try and pick a favorite dish that Barbara made was impossible- from her strawberry jam and homemade bread to her infamous coconut cake. She once overnighted a large pan of Thanksgiving stuffing on dry ice to her sister in California because trying to explain how to make it over the phone was just not the same. Being the oldest sister- she looked out for and took care of everyone. Perhaps her loveliest accomplishment was her ability to make everyone she encountered feel important and that they were her favorite. Barbara was the epitome of a Proverbs 31 woman- she pursued the wisdom of the Lord instead of wisdom of the world. She lived her faith.

She is survived by her son, Anthony “Tony” Lynn Jones of Jackson; sister, Jayne Crawford Brinton of Carmel, CA; brother, Jerry Crawford (Dee) of Branson, MO, Sister in law Alice of Cottonwood, AZ; three grandchildren, Brooke Allyson Jones Doggett (Justin), Gregory Stuart Jones, Jeremy Jones; four great-grandchildren, Jarred Jones, Zen River Jones, Jacob Erik Doggett and Brayden Everett Doggett; and two very close double first cousins, Joy Goodwin and Judy Wallace.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Jones; her son Timothy “Tim” Maurice Jones; and her brother Bill Crawford.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2022 in the Chapel of Curry Funeral Home officiated by Reverend Bill Phipps with interment to follow in Fairview Cemetery.

Greg Jones, Jarred Jones, Jeremy Jones, Scot Smith, Joey Maiwelmal, Justin Doggett, Steve Smith and Bud Wallace will be honoring Mrs. Jones by serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends Thursday morning beginning at 11:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Three Oaks Baptist Church, 1105 Resthome Road, Dyersburg, TN 38024 or St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 https://www.stjude.org

Funeral services are under the direction of Curry Funeral Home. We are privileged and honored to serve the Jones family. You may share your condolences and your memories with the family at www.curryfuneral.com.