Nancy Short Jones

Beck Funeral Home of Clayton announces the death of Mrs. Nancy Short Jones, age 72, who died peacefully on Friday, January 29, 2009 at the home of her daughter in Hot Srings, Arkansas. She valiantly battled cancer since being diagnosed in August 2005.


Mrs. Jones was born April 26, 1936 in Clayton, Georgia to Perry Webb Short and Nan Hamby Short. She lived her formative years with her parents and five brothers and sisters at the corner of Church Street and Hiawassee Street in Clayton, which is the current location of the Rabun County Historical Society. She was the third of six children.


She was a l954 graduate of Rabun County High School. Many from that era remember her as a high scoring forward for the girls basketball team. In the spring of 1954 her jersey (#19) was retired at a ceremony at the high school after a four-year high school career during which she scored 2,712 points. In August of 1955, after spending a year at the Georgia State College for Women, she married Carlton Henry Jones, Jr.


For many years in the 1960s Mrs. Jones taught senior life saving at the city pool and along the shoreline in front of the family home at Lake Burton. She also worked part-time for various health care professionals in Rabun County. She was a popular figure at Rabun County High School where she worked as a para professional/teacher's assistant from the 1990s up through the 2004-2005 school year.


Nancy Jones had many interests. She enjoyed wild flowers, gardening, painting, drawing, bird watching, antiques, pottery, various forms and styles of music; and in her latter years learned to strum the guitar. She enjoyed walks with her friends in and around Clayton.


In Mrs. Jones' younger days she played tennis, enjoyed water skiing, and was a regular figure in the summer at the old city swimming pool in Clayton with her children and their friends. At age 55 (1991), she won her age group in her first attempt at the Lake Burton Fun Run. Nancy was a selfless and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was an excellent cook who was proud of her mountain heritage.


Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Carlton Jones, Jr., of Clayton; daughter, Elizabeth Jones Farley and husband Jim of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; son, Carlton Henry Jones III and wife Susan Smith Jones of Peachtree City, Georgia; five grandchildren: Erin Elizabeth Gourlay of London, England; John Matthew Gourlay, Jr., of Lehigh University in Pennsylvania; Margaret Benham Jones; Elizabeth Hamilton Jones; and Carlton Henry Jones IV, all of Peachtree City, Georgia. Survivors also include brothers, Charles Robert Short and wife Diana of Blairsville; Jack Suddath Short and wife of Clayton; sisters, Kay Short Norton of Alpharetta and Melissa Short Beck and husband Stuart of Clayton. Another sister, Theresa Short McCraw, passed away in 2003. Mrs. Jones is also survived by scores of nieces, nephews, cousins and long-time friends.


A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 7, 2009 in the Chapel of Beck Funeral Home in Clayton, Georgia.


The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donation be made in memory of Nancy Short Jones to Regency Hospice, Post Office Box 494, Hiawassee, Georgia, 30546 ... l-800-577-8791.


An online Memorial Register Book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com



Beck Funeral Home of Clayton Georgia, in in charge of arrangements ... 706-782-9599.


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