Olivia Jones

Olivia Ray Jones LUBBOCK, Texas - Katherine Olivia Ray Jones passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2009, in Lubbock. Olivia was born Sept. 18, 1934, to Oliver Tinsley and Katherine Broadfield Ray. She spent the first three years of her life in Americus, Ga. After a move to Atlanta, Olivia attended Grady High School, graduating in 1952. After graduation, Olivia attended Brenau University in Gainesville, Ga. She then graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens in 1956 with a degree in elementary education. It was during her senior year that her older brother, Charles Ray, introduced her to his medical school roommate, Jeff Jones. She and Jeff married right after his graduation from medical school and spent more than 40 years together prior to his passing in 2000. The couple spent time living in Jacksonville, Fla., Long Island, N.Y., Annapolis, Md., and their beloved location of Rota, Spain. In 1967, they settled in Portsmouth where they raised their three children. Jeff and Olivia were members of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. Olivia was president of the Portsmouth Academy of Medicine Auxiliary in 1988, spent 15 years driving for Meals on Wheels as a volunteer, worked with Mothers against Drunk Driving, and taught Spanish for 10 years at St. Christopher's Academy. She also spent as much time as possible driving to horse shows, entertaining friends, and "fiddling" with her plants. Olivia relocated to Lubbock, four years ago to be near her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed attending her church, St. Paul's Episcopal, and so loved her new home in Vintage Township. She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren Jeffrey Jones Jr. and her daughter, Katherine Ray Jones. Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Warren Jones and Julie Jones Cordero of Lubbock; son-in-law, Joe Cordero of Lubbock; her brothers, Thomas Broadfield Ray of Atlanta and Charles Dean Ray of Santa Barbara, Calif.; grandchildren, Ryan Jones of Portland, Ore., and both Jeffrey and Isabel Cordero of Lubbock; as well as numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews who will miss "Aunt O." A service and burial will take place in Hancock Funeral Home and Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus, Ga., on Saturday, June 13. A reception will be held July 22, 2009, at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. The family would like to express their great appreciation to the amazing staff at University Medical Center who took such loving care of Olivia. The family suggests memorials to either the Jeff Jones Room or the Katie Jones Commons at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 3300 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23703.