1945
Alita
2019
Alita Louise Bell Jones
April 5, 1945 — October 28, 2019
Alita Louise Bell Jones, 74, of Blakely, GA died at her temporary memory care home in Camarillo, CA on Thursday, October 10, 2019 after a long battle with Huntington's Disease.
Alita was born on April 5, 1945, in Blakely, GA to the late Lucretia "Grey" and Carlie "Red" Bell Sr.Growing up, she had a special family bond with her four siblings, three of which were very close in age. Alita graduated from Early County High School in 1962 and went on to attend Va ABAC. She transferred to the University of Georgia and graduated in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in teaching.During those years, she formed many lifelong friendships resulting in countless "girl's trips" with her friends from college until the days that her illness took over.
After graduation, Alita became an elementary school teacher near Atlanta, GA where she met her husband, Thomas Reid Jones, a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. They married in 1971 at the First Baptist Church in Blakely, GA. Together, they continued their legacy of making lifelong friends with those around them.They lived in many cities across the United States and always built the strongest of friendships, many of which are still considered family by the Joneses.In 1977, Alita gave birth to Bradley Thomas Jones and six years later Tom and Alita had their second child, Jennifer Grey-Anne Jones. During this time, Alita became a stay-at-home mom and spent her days lovingly and selflessly taking care of her two children.
In 1989, Alita's family was on the move again, this time to Duncanville, TX.After 7 years in Texas, Tom was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease. Alita became his caretaker, never forgetting her role as a mother.She dedicated her life to keeping Tom safe and keeping her family functioning as normal as possible. Although her husband was terminally ill, she still never skipped a beat raising her kids and diligently attending their activities. After Tom passed and her children were out of the home, she moved back to Blakely, GA in 2001.Alita was once again blessed to be surrounded with love from her siblings and her father.The Blakely community took great care of her as the Huntington's began to take over her ability to care for herself.She had many special caretakers, family and friends that worked to keep Alita happy and living at home. They all did a great job of being patient and tending to her needs.
Eventually, Alita needed to move to specialized care near her children and grandchildren.In 2016, she moved into a memory care facility at Brookdale Nursing Home in Camarillo, CA. As a result, Alita's children and grandchildren were able to spend significant quality time with her during her last few years of life.
Alita was known as a genuine friend and a second mother to many.She was headstrong and had a strict line for discipline that no one wanted to cross.She had a talent for making everyone feel comfortable in all situations, whether it was someone visiting the house or taking care of her own children in difficult times.Her passion was watching college football, always rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs and the Texas A&M Aggies. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend.She will be dearly missed and never forgotten.
Survivors include her son, Bradley Thomas Jones and wife Jennifer Jones of Camarillo, CA; daughter, Jennifer Grey-Anne Vinson and husband Chad Vinson of Canyon Lake, TX; her granddaughters, Elle and Grey Jones of Camarillo, CA; her step grandchildren, Lindy and Tyler Vinson of Canyon Lake, TX; her sister, Carleen Logan of Blakely, GA; her brother, Carlie Bell of Fort Myers, FL; her brother, Claude Bell of Blakely, GA; along with many nieces, nephews, sister and brother-in laws and other relatives.
Alita was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Reid Jones, as well as her parents, Red and Grey Bell, and her brother, Tommy Bell.
A visitation will be held from 6-8pm on November 7, 2019 at Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home in Blakely, GA. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, November 8, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Blakely, GA with Dr. Alex Howell officiating, followed shortly after by a graveside burial at the Blakely Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Chad Vinson, Peter Garaventa, Gary Place, Jason Klimpel, Chris Logan and Chuck Logan.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Alita Jones may be made to the UCLA Huntington Disease Research Fund via check (payable to "The UCLA Foundation") mailed to Attention: Luba Skoropad, UCLA Department of Neurology Finance Office, 710 Westwood Plaza, 4-151 RNRC, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769, with the memo note "HD Research IMO of Alita Jones".Or online at www.giving.ucla.edu/JohnPaulJrHD.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alita Louise Bell Jones, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, November 7, 2019
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern time)
Manry Jordan Hodges Funeral Home
Service
Friday, November 8, 2019
Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)
First Baptist Church
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