Carol J. Jones

Carol Joyce Jones, 84, of Long Beach, Mississippi passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025.

She was born on September 22, 1941, in Wakefield, Rhode Island to Robert and Florence Grinnell. She was the third of six children. After she graduated high school, she attended the Rhode Island School of Practical Nursing and graduated in 1961 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Shortly after, on a whim, she attended a USO style dance with friends and met Michael J. Jones. Michael was in the Navy and stationed at NAS Quonset Point. They were married six months later in June of 1963 and their marriage lasted close to 50 wonderful years. They added Robert to the family in 1966, and Thomas in 1968. Becky rounded out the family in 1973. Carol was a military wife and became quite adept at packing and moving our family of five many times cross country to wherever they were stationed by the Navy. Carol worked as a nurse and sometimes in childcare. All the while she managed the household whether Michael was home or deployed. After many years of moving around, they finally settled in Long Beach, MS where she continued to run the household and raise her family, all while working in skilled nursing facilities around the area. After several years working at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, she went back to school and completed her BSN at the University of Southern Mississippi. She continued working at Memorial Hospital in the sub-acute unit where she retired after many rewarding years of doing what she did best - taking care of people.

Carol loved to read mystery and crime books (some of her favorite authors were James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, Dean Koontz), take long hot baths, blueberry jelly on her toast, watch her grandbabies (and great grands) play sports, road trips, gardening and working in the yard, knitting baby clothes and blankets, arts and crafts with the grandkids, watching baseball (loved the Braves), and cooking and caring for her family. She was the most selfless, generous, and caring mom and grandma that you could ever want. We always told her that she was the best mom ever and she would always smile and humbly reply, “I did ok.”

She was married to Michael J. Jones who preceded her in death in 2013. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Charlie Grinnell, her son-in-law James “Rusty” Whittington, and her great granddaughter Harper Ryals. She is survived by sisters Pat Blydenburgh, Donna Knott, Judy Weremay, and brother Robert Grinnell, two sons: Robert Jones (Jennifer Hurlbert) and Thomas (Jennifer Kisner) Jones, daughter Rebecca Whittington, three grandchildren: Emily Ryals (Phillip Darnell), David (Jazmine) Ryals and Jacob Whittington; five great grandchildren: Chaylynn Gerald, Michael Gerald, Melody Ryals, Victoria “Tori” Ryals and Rylee Ryals.

The family would like to thank the staff at Seashore Highlands and Traditions Hospice for not only their professionalism and knowledge of dementia but for their absolute love and care for our mom. You brought peace to our family and we will be forever grateful to you.

The Riemann Family is honored to serve Carol's family during this time.