Patsy Marie Heldreth Jones, 96, of Coble Healthcare, Twin Lakes Community, Burlington, NC, died at the Hospice Home at 3 pm on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, after several years of declining health and a two week critical illness.

A native of Rural Retreat, VA, Patsy "Pat" was born August 7, 1918, to Frank B. and Lula Belle (Vaught) Heldreth. She married her husband, Walter Minitre Jones, Jr, in 1940. He died in Waddell Nursing Home in Galax, VA, on Christmas 2003, after 63 years of marriage. No couple was closer.

Patsy is survived by her children: Pamela Kaye (Pam) and Dwight Leadbetter of Elon, NC, and Walter M. (W.M.) Jones III of Big Pool, MD.
Patsy attended school in Rural Retreat and graduated from Harrisonburg State Teacher's College (now James Madison University) in Harrisonburg, VA. She taught for 8 years–the first three years in Wythe Co in the Piney area. She met and married Walter Jr. and continued teaching 6th & 7th grades in Galax for the next 5 years. She loved teaching and remained close to it all her life. Her students still looked her up and recognized her until she left Galax in 2005.

Patsy grew up on a working farm in Rural Retreat. The youngest child of ten (two died as babies), she was 24 years younger than her oldest brother, so she was definitely the baby in the family. They all worked hard, and her lifelong work ethic was nurtured on the homeplace. But so was her spirit of fun, her sense of humor, her boundless energy, her unmatched hospitality, her cooking skills, and her passion for family. She and Walter Jr remained close to all her family and extended family their entire lives, culminating with a Jones/Heldreth Reunion in Burlington on her 90th Birthday.


She was predeceased by her siblings and their spouses: Lee Roy Heldreth, Fred Taylor (Floda) Heldreth, Ruth Peery (George) Yancey, Mabel Brown Ellison, Ralph Omega (Mary) Heldreth, Helen Virginia Heldreth, Madge "Short" (Herman) Pope and two infants.
She is survived by nieces and nephews: Dorothy "Dot" (Yancey) Harpine, James "Jim" & Susan Ellison, Sandra "Sammye" (Pope) & Dr Tom Johnson, Patricia "Toots" (Pope) & John Phillippi, Alex & Barbara Pope, and Freddie Heldreth, as well as Shirley Ann (Akers) & Ken Rosenbaum.


Walter Jr's family owned R. E. Jones & Son Furniture and Funeral business, founded on Main Street in 1904, as well as an upholstery plant in Galax. Patsy worked in the businesses part-time and left teaching to go to work full-time as the bookkeeper for LaFlora Plant. When the factory closed, she went to work at the store, where she worked side-by-side with Walter Jr. until they retired and closed the store in 1992. They both loved Galax and were always involved in the Downtown community.

The business was re-named Jones Furniture Inc. and ultimately relocated to Grayson Street until closing. During their careers, the retail furniture store sold appliances, heating, mattresses, carpet & flooring, as well as designer items, accessories, artwork, bedding, kitchen items and more. Patsy was a born decorator and had tremendous impact on their buying. When they added drapery and window treatments, wallpaper, and fabrics, she was in her element helping customers furnish and finish their homes. And she enjoyed this all her life.

Patsy was an active member of First United Methodist Church—Galax for 75 years and attended Elon United Methodist while in Burlington. She was very active in the WSCS for many years and in her Circle at both churches and served in numerous capacities.
Over the years, she was active and served as an officer, hostess, and program chairman for the Galax Music Club, Garden Club, Book Club, Mother's Club, Bridge Club, and others. She was an active downtown merchant and supported Walter Jr.'s roles with the Jaycees, the Lions Club and the Tuberculosis Association.

She and Walter Jr. were members of both Galax Country Club and Blue Ridge Country Club, where she was a playing member of the Ladies Golf Assn. Patsy enjoyed golf into her 80's until arthritis and joint injuries ended her play, but she missed it the rest of her life.
Patsy was most proud of her contribution to education as a member of Galax City School Board and as its second female Chairman. She had loved teaching, she was a dedicated and involved mother of two, and she was an astute business person. It followed that her leadership role on the School Board and her involvement during critical times in the 60's and early 70's and during a construction and renovation phase would be a highlight of her service work.

Patsy worked all her life and loved it. But at heart, she was a real "homemaker". She was the epitome of the Southern hostess, whose doors were always open. She enjoyed entertaining, family and friends were always welcome, and there was always good food. She was a wonderful cook and presenter, she kept a beautiful home, and she had the energy to do it all. Luckily, she and Walter Jr. shared their love of people, their enjoyment in the kitchen as they prepared for guests together, and their open-hearted hospitality. They worked and played together for 63 + years, and she was there with him as his primary caretaker until his death.

When Patsy moved from MacArthur Street in Galax in 2005, her home for 65 years, to Twin Lakes in Burlington, to be near her daughter Pam, she had to leave so many good and lifelong friends behind. However, she opened her door in Canterbury and the Twin Lakes community opened their arms to make a new "home" there for almost 10 years.
When Patsy had to move from her independent-living apartment in Canterbury to HealthCare in August 2013, friends and neighbors continued to visit. We cannot possibly name all the people who have been important and memorable to Mama and to us over these last 10 years at Twin Lakes, but we hope that staff and residents know what an important and memorable part they have played.

Mama was the "perfect" wife and mother and mother-in-law. She worked tirelessly to support whatever was going on in the lives of her family. She was our loudest cheerleader, our fiercest protector, and our most dedicated teacher. She was our confidant, our mentor, our example, and our best friend. She was fun and funny, and together, we laughed till we cried. She instilled confidence and conscience. She dedicated her life to keeping her family first and to keeping them close. And never did her work or other activities take away from her attention to us – we never doubted that we came first. She leaves a hole in our hearts and lives that cannot be filled.

Her funeral will be conducted in the Chapel of Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home of Galax on Friday, October 24, at 1:00 pm. The family will receive friends from 11 – 1:00, at Vaughan-Guynn prior to the service. A private burial will follow in Felts Memorial Cemetery in Galax.

There will also be a Memorial Gathering in the May-Foley Chapel in the Twin Lakes Retirement Community in Burlington on Saturday, November 8, at 1:30 pm. A reception will follow in The Pepper Tree next door from 2:00 – 4:00.

Memorials may be made to Twin Lakes Resident's Assistance Fund, 3701 Wade Coble Dr, Burlington, NC 27215, to Hospice & Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215, or to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 445, Galax, VA 24333.

Pam & Dwight and W.M. would like to express their sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Staff of Twin Lakes Home Health for their years of care and assistance to Mama and especially for their love and devotion, to the Staff of Coble HealthCare for their professional attention and care during the last 14 months, and to Hospice of Alamance for their sensitive and specialized care over these last two years and their tender compassion during her final days.