Mary Alice Garren Jones

Mary Alice Garren Jones, 85, of Leicester, died Saturday, November 11, 2000 in St. Joseph’s Hospital. Born in Hendersonville, she was the daughter of the late John W. and Alice H. Garren. She had resided first in Asheville and then in Leicester since 1962. Mrs. Jones was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Asheville. She retired in 1962 after serving more than 20 years as bookkeeper for the Patterson’s Clothing Stores in Hendersonville. She was a business woman and homemaker. Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband, George H. Jones, Jr. and nine brothers and sisters. She is survived by her son, Dr. Fred W. Roper of Columbia, SC; sisters-in-law, Olive R. Garren of Malden, MO, Elizabeth Roper, Edith Roper, Helen Roper and Ruth Roper of Hendersonville, and Ethel R. Brock of Spartanburg, SC; brother-in-law, Harry Roper of Naples, FL. She also leaves many nieces and nephews, including special nieces June Allen Todd and Louella Allen Hefner of Charlotte, NC and many cousins, including special cousins Carrie and Elizabeth Barton and Frances and Harley Blackwell, all of Hendersonville. Her many loving and devoted friends include special friends Geneva J. Duckett of Leicester, Grace H. Cagle of Hendersonville and Jon A. Upson of Columbia, SC. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Patton Avenue Chapel of Groce Funeral Home. The Reverend Ronnie Owen will officiate, assisted by the Reverend John Rymer of Hendersonville. Burial will follow in Green Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m. Monday and from 1-2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 200 Mount Carmel Rd., Asheville, NC 28806. The family is grateful for the loving care and attention Mrs. Jones received from the nurses, staff, and physicians at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Special thanks are extended to all the 4th Floor Restorative Care Unit nurses and staff, particularly Pam, Brenda, Valerie, Anna, Emmi, Kathy and Brian.