Charlotte Louise Jones

Charlotte Renshaw Jones, born Charlotte Louise Renshaw, age 82, of Lakeland, MI, passed away peacefully at her home of 57 years on November 25, 2025. A beloved mother, grandmother, and dear friend to many, Charlotte is survived by her son, Alan Wyndham Jones; her daughter-in-law and parenting partner to Alan, Kristen Anne Jones; and her grandchildren, Lila Mae and Hudson Wyndham Jones, all of Portland, OR. She is also survived by her younger sister, Linda Schutz, and brother-in-law, David Schutz, of Calais, VT.

Charlotte was born on December 3, 1942, in Mount Vernon, NY, to Richard Nolte Renshaw and Jane Parker Renshaw. After Richard returned from his naval position in the Aleutian Islands during World War II, the family (now four) moved to Clifton Springs, NY.

Charlotte graduated from Clifton Springs Central School, where she excelled in academics, sports, and leadership. She was salutatorian of her graduating class and was honored with the D.A.R. Citizenship award. She attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, graduating in 1964 with honors in English. While at Dickinson, Charlotte played Field Hockey and was active in sorority life. She attended graduate school at the University of Michigan where she met her husband Chester Oliver Jones II while taking literature classes.

A life-long educator and scholar, Charlotte's first teaching position was in West Chester, PA, where Charlotte and Chet spent their early years together. Charlotte and Chet later moved to Ypsilanti, MI where Charlotte took a teaching position at Ypsilanti Lincoln Highschool.

In spring of 1968, Charlotte and Chet found a partially converted summer cottage on Zukey Lake in Lakeland, MI - a fateful find that would set the course for Charlotte's life and legacy. Between the late '60s and early '70s, six families set up camp simultaneously, all calling that corner of Zukey Lake home. Charlotte spent 57 years enjoying life-long friendships within this tight-knit group, which continues to live on. Now spanning three generations, she will be remembered as a matriarch of the community.

After her son was born in 1971, Charlotte returned to teaching. She began substitute teaching in her community at Pinckney High School, eventually taking a full-time position in 1973. She was a fixture at Pinckney High School for 27 years until retiring in 1999. She founded a Humanities course, taught thousands of students to think and write, and prepared them for college. Charlotte served as the Head of the English Department, Head Coach of the Women's Varsity Tennis Team, and was a recipient of the Pinckney Community Schools Teacher of the Year award.

Upon retiring from teaching, Charlotte's love for New England, family, and roots called her to Vermont. In the fall of 1999, she bought a summer camp on Woodbury Lake, where she spent summers listening to loons while reading on the porch.

In 2009, she turned westward. She spent a decade of summers raising her two grandchildren in Oregon. She loved the spring bloom in the Willamette Valley and summers at the Oregon Coast reading and playing Euchre with family.

Beyond her achievements and accomplishments, Charlotte will most of all be remembered for her character, values, kindness, and sense of empathy. She always put others first and had a selfless ability to put herself in other's shoes, never failing to see the best in everyone. She had a strong sense of right and wrong but remained diplomatic and non-judgmental. She believed in democracy, equal rights, and fairness - she loved her family, her community, and all of humanity. She was full of grace and understood how to love.

She was an inspiring woman whose legacy has touched generations. Cheers to Ms. Jones, Charlotte, Grandma Charlotte, and Mom - we are eternally grateful to have been a part of your life!

A celebration of Charlotte's life will be held at her home, early in 2026.