Cleo Garner Jones

Cleo Garner Jones, age 90, passed away Friday, June 3, 2022, at her home.

Born August 11, 1931, in Newport, NC, she was a daughter of the late Jesse Roland Garner and Tecie Jane McCain Garner.

She was a 1949 graduate of Newport Consolidated High School and attended Women’s College (later UNC-Greensboro). Following her marriage to Frederick Jones, she returned to school to receive her associate’s degree from Hardbarger’s Business School in Raleigh.

She and Mr. Jones moved to Asheville in 1955, and the following year she began her banking career, first at the Bank of Asheville and later at Appalachian Savings & Loan. More recently she worked at Skyland United Methodist Church and at Crowfields Condominiums. She was a member of Skyland United Methodist Church where she served as Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, and was a member of the United Methodist Women, Evening Circle. She volunteered for the Council on Aging of Henderson County, Meals on Wheels program and was instrumental in the incorporation of the Town of Mills River, becoming a library volunteer.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Frederick B. Jones, who died December 30, 2020.

She is survived by her daughters, Wanda Williams (Roy), Cheryl Janoski (Ken), and Sandy Waldrop (Larry); grandchildren, Scott Williams (Katie), Kimberly Newlin (Kurt), Kelly Terry (Joe) and Hunter Jackson (John); great-grandchildren, Aiden Williams, Court Williams, Kayson Newlin, Kenzie Newlin, Booker Terry and Emery Jackson; and nieces and nephews, Marsha Lynn Fornes, Gilbert Giles Garner, Morgan Lane Garner, and Keith Garner.

She was preceded in death by siblings, Ruby Estelle Garner Garner, Carl Walton Garner, Valverta “Tater” Garner and Jesse Theodore Garner, and a niece, Gloria Jean Murdoch.

Graveside services will be 11:00 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Churchyard, Fletcher, with the Rev. Ellis Rouse officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Skyland United Methodist Church or the Council on Aging of Henderson County, Meals on Wheels program, or Four Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation.

The family gratefully acknowledges her caregivers of the last 17 months, Esther Doe, Kathy Whitmore and Fatu Ansah, for their excellent care and companionship. And once again, we thank Charlie Gibson for keeping her gardens blooming.