Gladys Lacey Jones

Gladys Lacey Jones, formerly of North Miami, FL, passed away on Friday, February 23, 2018 at age 106 after a brief hospitalization followed by  in-home Hospice at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Bette and Steve Noble . Mrs. Jones was the daughter of the late Robert S. Lacey Sr. and Nannie Morrell Lacey of Carter County, Tennessee. She was the valedictorian of the 1929 class of Elizabethton, TN, and graduated from Johnson City Business College. For several years she was the private secretary for Dr. Hoffman, the plant manager of Bemberg, a large rayon plant in Elizabethton, TN, which supplied rayon material for parachutes prior to and during World War II. In order to assist German-born Dr. Hoffman with his English written communication, she attended night classes in German.

In 1939, she attended a U.S. government sponsored aviation ground school with a girlfriend. Both young women were awarded 50 hours of flight instruction as the two women scoring highest on the final exam of the class. Gladys soloed after her instruction and became the eighth woman in the state of Tennessee to earn a pilot license.

In 1940, she became a charter member of the Tennessee 99’s chapter. The 99’s is the international organization of female pilots, founded by Amelia Earhart.  In 2011, Gladys’ one hundredth year, she was honored in Knoxville, TN with a tea given by the TN 99’s chapter celebrating Gladys, the only remaining charter member of the TN 99’s.  She renewed her membership in the TN 99’s in Oct. 2017. She was also a member of the Colonel William Chandler Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her Patriot ancestor was Leonard Hart of NC, who survived smallpox on the way home from the battle of Kings Mt., SC, and lived to be 98 years of age.

In 1943, Ms. Jones applied twice to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS), but was not accepted due to her short stature. In response, she accepted the proposal of marriage from her fellow pilot, Hubbard M “Cotton” Jones Jr. of Bristol, TN.  At that time he was field flight commander at Carlstrom Field in Arcadia, FL and Gladys left Tennessee to be married in Coral Gables, FL. She and her husband lived in Arcadia the remainder of WWII.    

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband Hubbard M. Jones, Jr., her sister, Martha Lacey Maugans of Elizabethton, TN and her brother, Robert S, Lacey Jr. of Johnson City, TN.

She is survived by her son, Hubbard M. Jones III (Bardy), her grandsons,  Ben Jones and Brendan Jones of Pelham, NY, Hubbard M Jones IV and fiancé’, Marcee Pashkovsky of  San Jose, CA, -- her daughter, Bette J. Noble and her husband, Dr. Steve Noble of Gainesville, GA --- Grandsons Dr. Mark S. Noble and his wife Linda Sigle Noble of San Diego, CA,  Clark B. Noble of Charleston, SC, Michael Moore and wife Denise Moore, Great grandchildren, Evan Moore, Emma Moore, and Aaron Moore of Washington, GA,  Nieces Dr. Barbara L. McManus and husband, Dr. Phillip E. McManus of Kingsport, TN, and Betsy Pico and husband Dan of St. Augustine,FL, and  great niece Jeannie Gray and husband Trevor Gray, and great nephew Rob McManus of Johnson City, TN, and Fillmore McPherson III and wife Joan, of Madison, CT.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, those who wish may give to the First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville, GA, Fund for Health and Housing, or to Choices Pregnancy Care Center, Gainesville, GA.

A graveside service is planned at Southern Memorial Park, North Miami Beach, FL in the spring of 2018.  Online condolences can be made at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30501. 770-297-6200.