Celetta Ransom Powell Jones

Thomasville, GA
Celetta Ransom Powell Jones, 94, energetic, innovative, dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and church member, passed away peacefully at home on March 17,2018 in Thomasville, Georgia. Known to her friends as Lella, and to her family as Lollie, she lived to serve others. Her love for Christ, her husband, her family and her community inspired us all. Born in Thomasville to Margaret McKay Powell and William John Powell on a frigid January morning, Lella, who weighed less than three pounds, was passed from one church lady to another to help her to stay warm and to thrive. From the first day of her life until the last, Lella’s church family warmed and nurtured her faith and her life so that she could thrive as a servant to her savior Jesus Christ.

Lella spent her childhood in Thomasville, GA. While a student at Thomasville High School, she was named High School Actress of the Year for the state of Georgia in 1942. After graduating from THS in 1942, Lella attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. Upon graduation from Agnes Scott College in 1946, Lella married her sweetheart Harry Tudor Jones, Jr. in Thomasville as soon as he returned from serving in the army during World War II. The couple began their married life in Philadelphia, PA in order for Harry to obtain his MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania on the GI Bill. While in Philadelphia, they began a Sunday school class for young married couples.

Two years later, Lella and Harry moved to Thomasville so that Harry could accept a position from his father-in-law at W. J. Powell Company. They also became active members of First Presbyterian Church in Thomasville. This couple joyfully served their church, family and community. Never one to serve on a committee or as an officer, Lella would arrive at her preacher’s office on Monday morning to update him on visitors, folks missing in worship and those in need of nurture. Then, Lella would dedicate herself to Christian nurture with cookies as her calling card.

Lella loved Thomasville and Thomas County. By the Chamber of Commerce, Lella and Harry were selected as Woman and Man of the Year in 1979. Working together was what this couple did best. Lella and Harry’s marriage endured for 67 years and served as a great witness to lives and marriages with Christ as the foundation.

Survivors include her children: Randy Jones of Atlanta; Margaret and Ves Berry of Macon; Holly and Harry T. Jones of Thomasville; Caren and Powell Jones of Thomasville; and Nancy and John Fox of Winchester, VA.

Grandchildren include Andrew Henderson (Michelle), Lauren Henderson Strine (Brenton), Emily Berry Hutchins (Julian), Catherine Berry Moon (Jake), Roddey Jones, Austin Jones (Eva), Laura Jones, Rebecca Jones, Christopher Jones (Betsy), Mallory Jones, Madison Jones, Marshall Jones, Anna Fox, and Jay Fox.

Great-grandchildren include Lucy Henderson, Etta Henderson, Piper Henderson, Jay Hutchins, Walker Hutchins, Emmett Strine and Sophie Jones.
Other survivors include numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Jones, Jr.; her daughter Catherine Roddey Jones Henderson; and her sisters, Bobbie Flowers and Georgia Lemmon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Jackson St., Thomasville, GA 31792 to be designated for either the W.J. and Margaret M. Powell Scholarship Fund or the Margaret McKay Powell Speaker Fund. A visitation will be held Monday, March 19th at The Garden Center 5-7pm. A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held Tuesday, March 20th at 11am at First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville.