Linda Sue Jones

Linda Sue (Umbarger) Jones transitioned from this life Aug. 5, following an extended illness and surrounded by her loved ones. She was 79.
Born in Manchester, Tenn., on June 5, 1946, she was the youngest of four children to Leon and Eddie Umbarger. She would always call Manchester her home.
She attended Manchester Central High School (later Coffee County High School), where she was the local basketball star. She led the Lady Raiders to the Tennessee state tournament semifinals in her senior year of 1964, where she also set a single-game scoring record for the state tournament with 42 points.
With her husband, Billy Jones (married in 1964), they would make a family with their sons, Chris and Josh. A daughter, Angel, was welcomed to Heaven upon her birth. Starting as a homemaker, Linda would find her way to professional employment at First National Bank of Manchester, where she worked for 39 years, retiring in 2014 as Vice President of Deposit Operations. Her greatest passion was service to her Lord Jesus Christ. She was a long-time and active member of Forest Mill Baptist Church, where she worshipped, praised, taught, sang, coordinated, led and served. She leaves behind a church family that is grateful, grieving and yet rejoicing for her now.
Her sons remember her as a wonderful and most exemplary mother. Her daughters-in-law and grandchildren remember her with the same fondness. She was a master southern cook, a great giver of gifts, a Christmas extraordinaire and a closet poet. She loved making other people feel loved and making a difference. She cherished UT Sports, old-time Rock-n-Roll and Gospel music, shopping, family dinners, and relaxing on her swing or deck. Her favorite pastime, in her own words, was to laugh.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Jones; her daughter, Angel; her parents, Leon and Eddie Umbarger; her brother, Jimmy Umbarger; her sister-in-law Nancy Umbarger, and her brother-in-law Jack Brewer.
She is survived by her sons, Chris (Bonita) and Josh (Jenny) Jones; grandchildren Cayln Hilditch (Cameron), Chrisln Ledbetter (Will), Andy Jones, Aaron Jones and Chloe Jones; her brother, Johnny (Judy), and her sister, Shirley Brewer; nephews John Umbarger, Zane Umbarger, Jay Brewer, Joe Umbarger; nieces Kim Thompson, Brigitte Williamson, Shannon Furlough, Julie Jackson.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 8, 2025, at 10:00am in the chapel of Central Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma, TN.
The family welcomes donations to the Forest Mill Baptist Church Building Fund in lieu of flowers. (Send donations to: Forest Mill Baptist Church, C/O Denton Jones, P.O. Box 321, Manchester, TN 37349-321)
Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the Jones family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com