Grace Preiss Jones, 77, of Auburn, died Sat., July 18, 2009, at Bethany House in Auburn after an extended battle with ovarian cancer. A private graveside burial for family only will be followed by funeral services today, Tues., July 21, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Auburn First Baptist Church.
Mrs. Jones is survived by her husband of 56 years, Dr. Allen W. Jones, formerly of Andalusia; sons, Dr. Allen W. (“Woody”) Jones, Jr. (Ruth Anne) of LaGrange, Ga., and Dr. Jeffrey P. Jones (Shana) of Norfolk, Va.; daughter Gail J. Saia of Auburn; grandsons Taylor Jones, Nathan Jones, Justin Saia, and Andrew Jones; and brother George Preiss III (Jane) of Little Rock, Ark.
Born in Montgomery in 1931, Mrs. Jones graduated from Lanier High School in 1950 and attended Judson College (1950-52). After living in Germany, Tuscaloosa, and Greenville, S.C., she became a resident of Auburn in 1966, and graduated with a degree in home economics from Auburn University in 1970.
Mrs. Jones — called by many “Amazing Grace” because of her boundless energy and generous hospitality — wrote a plant and a food column for the Auburn Bulletin (later serving as society editor) and the Opelika-Auburn News. She retired from her journalism career in 1992. Most recently, with members of the “Hungry Tigers,” she co-edited Auburn Celebrates Life with Family and Friends, a cookbook that raised approximately $30,000 for cancer research at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to Bethany House and Hospice of EAMC, 665 Opelika Road, Auburn, AL 36830.