Gladys McFee Jones Jones

Gladys McFee Jones Jones, 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at Trinity Ridge Memory Care, in Hickory, NC. Gladys received a bachelor’s degree from Gardner-Webb University and was a beloved Kindergarten teacher at Ira B. Jones Elementary School in Asheville and several schools in Kings Mountain, NC.

She was the wife of Dr. Donald D. Jones, former Kings Mountain City Schools Superintendent, Asheville City Schools Superintendent, and Lee H. Edwards High School (Asheville High) principal, who died in 2016. They were married for 63 years. Gladys and Don loved their family, their church, their schoolwork, and Asheville.

Over the years Gladys enjoyed hosting meetings of youth and adults in their home and having chili suppers before football games. She loved spending time at their vacation home at Linville Land Harbor.

Gladys was the daughter of the late John E. Jones and the late Ruth McFee Jones. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Joan J. Burleson, and a great-grandchild, Ray Starnes.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna J. Miller and husband Lewis Miller, of Hudson, NC; son, Jeff Jones and wife Dr. Carolyn West Jones, of Wilmington, NC; and son, David Jones and wife Suzanne Burgin Jones, of Columbia, SC. She cherished her six grandchildren: Matt Miller and wife Jess Nelson, Megan Miller Starnes and husband Jimmy Starnes, Weston Jones, Will Jones and wife Megan Gray, Dr. Natalie Shuler and husband Taylor Shuler, and Hunter Jones. Gladys adored her seven great-grandchildren, Emmelin and Braylen Starnes, Agda and Ziggy Miller, Caroline and Max Jones, and Avery Shuler.

Her family will receive friends beginning at noon on Saturday, March 1 in the Dining Hall at First Baptist Church Asheville, NC. A memorial service will be held in the Dining Hall at 1:00. Private interment will be held at Green Hills Cemetery.

Gladys would be greatly honored by memorial gifts to Crossnore Communities for Children, 100 DAR Dr. Crossnore, NC.