Carolyn Jennings Jones (Gigi) age 93 of Fries, Virginia peacefully passed away on Monday January 2, 2023, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson, North Carolina.

Carolyn was born in Fries, Virginia on July 19, 1929, to the late John (Slab) and Nannie Porter Jennings. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Ivan and ten brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Terry and David Wright of Daleville, Virginia; Cathy and Blake Sumner of Independence, Virginia; grandchildren and spouses Jessica and Michael Farina; Terri and Bill Cronin; Brittany and Hunter Crigler; Josh and Claire Wright; Cathy and Dennis Johansen; Tim Wright;  great-grandchildren Brady Cronin; Josh Jamison; Hudson Crigler; Laney Crigler; Caleb Wright; Nora Wright; Mary Carter Wright; Peyton Johansen and Riley Johansen; brother-in-law Jerry Shupe; sisters-in-law Ann Jennings and Kathleen Jennings; several nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Carolyn graduated from Fries High School at the age of seventeen. She attended Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina for one year where she was a member of the woman's basketball team. She graduated from Phillip's Business College in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1949. She found her career calling as a laboratory technician for Waddell Hospital then Twin County Community Hospital both in Galax, Virginia. This career lasted over 25 years.

In 1990 Carolyn was elected to the Fries Town Council and appointed mayor of Fries in September of that year making her the first woman mayor of the town. She served as mayor until August of 2005. She returned as a council member in 2008 serving until June of 2016, a total of 23 years of service.

Carolyn was also an active and longtime member of Fries Baptist Church. Her life was devoted to serving her community in many different capacities. She was a wonderful wife and mother, proud grandmother and doting great-grandmother. She will be fondly remembered and forever missed as a feisty and compassionate woman who made a great impact on so many people by the way she loved them.

Her family invites you to celebrate her life this Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Fries Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until 2:00 PM followed by the funeral service. The burial will be at the Fries Cemetery after the service. Flowers are welcome or in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fries Community Center, P.O. Box 604, Fries, Virginia 24330.