Frances Lynn Jones

Frances Lynn Jones, 55, died peacefully in her home in Wallace, WV early Monday morning May 3, 2010, with her loving partner of 26 years, Hilry Gordon, by her side. The only daughter of Fannie Irene Jones and Alonzo (Lonnie) Bruce Jones, her life was characterized by extraordinary kindness, which continued through a grueling two-year battle with brain cancer in which she remained gracious and positive until the end. She was truly a gift to this world and will be missed beyond words. Though her time on this earth was too short, Lynn’s life overflowed with personal, as well as professional, accomplishments and she excelled in every facet of her life and in every position she held. She finished her decorated career as a Senior Policy Analyst with ZERO TO THREE National Center for Infants and Toddlers. She had over 20 years of experience working with young children and their families through direct service; training and technical assistance to providers; and through community leadership, team building, and program and policy development. She was also a policy analyst at the local, state, and national levels. Lynn coordinated the development of West Virginia’s State Training and Registry System (STARS), a professional development system for early care and education providers statewide. She was an early childhood specialist with West Virginia’s Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families and an early childhood consultant with the West Virginia Department of Education, the WV Birth to Three Program, and the WV KIDS COUNT Fund. Lynn authored a publication entitled “The Building Blocks of Literacy: How Young Children Become Prepared to Be Readers” and has written many funded grants to support statewide early childhood and systems building efforts. Lynn had a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education and an advanced degree in public administration. As accomplished as she was as a professional, her unconditional love for others was her driving force in life. She shared a special bond with her twin brother, Lon Jones, her golden boy, and was like a mother and meant the world to her niece and nephews, Josh, Jenni, and Blake. Her friends and family knew her by many names including Lynnie, Lynnette, Bootie, and Frannie. Anybody who knew her also knew that Lynn would completely immerse herself in whatever project she started. Whether it was gardening, knitting, massage therapy, reiki, or yoga, Lynn threw herself at it with every bit of vigor, passion, and her and Hilry’s money she could muster. She also completely poured her energy into the caring of others. Paraphrasing her brother-in-law, Peter, she was like a big cloud of love. She loved everyone around her and her love flowed through them. All of those that were lucky enough to be around her were blessed with her kindness of spirit and her soul. She touched the life of everybody who was lucky enough to meet her. It is tough to summarize the dynamic individual Lynn was. The closest any has come to remotely describing Lynn’s essence was her “kissing cousin” Margie in a letter received by Lynn shortly before her passing: “Yes, you’re Italian, Catholic, Democratic, and proud — and fully appreciate la dolce far niente; but you’re also Appalachian, Protestant, radical, and hard and sinewy as a coal seam. Mix in bits of Southern belle, cheerleader and popular girl, carefree hippy chick, beloved sister, niece, aunt, and daughter, valiant protector of children, and rabble-rousing social activist, and you’ve got Frances Lynn Jones, always a surprise to others … (We) will always remember your antic laughter and wild theatrics, quickly changing to intense stillness as you practice your healing arts; your changeling spirit and pilgrim soul; your unqualified and unconditional devotion to family, old and new; your commitment to work, procrastination, and addiction to meeting the impossible deadline; your radiant face and graceful form; your stubbornness … your exquisite courtesy and concern for others.” Born on May 21, 1954, Lynn was preceded in death by her mother and father, both of whom she adored as much as life itself, and her mother-in-law, Sonia Gordon. Lynn is survived by her partner Hilry Gordon, her brother Lon Jones and wife Lilly; her nephew, Josh Jones, her niece Jenni Jones and partner Shane Parsons; her nephew Blake Jones; grand-nephews Jonah and Elias Parsons; her “sisters” Genny and Debbie Ferri; her in-laws, Karen Greengard, Jamie Gordon and husband Peter Blickle, Adam Gordon and wife Marilyn Milkman, Joshua Meer, Spencer Gordon and wife Linda, Timothy and Erin Cunningham, Isabel and Arlis Gordon; and so many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, family, and life-long friends that touched her life as she touched theirs. The family would like to thank all the angels that assisted with her care from friends and family, to neighbors, to all the caring individuals at Mary B. Randolph Cancer Center and People’s Hospice. Memorial mass will be held Saturday, May 8., 2010, at 11:30 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill with Father Paul Yuenger officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to West Virginia Public Radio, which she listened to almost every morning, or to a scholarship established in her memory though the TEACH Scholarship program. Donations can be sent to “Friends of WVPB” in memory of Lynn Jones, 600 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301, or donations may be made in the memory of Lynn Jones to the TEACH Scholarship program at River Valley Child Development Services, ATTN: TEACH, 611 7th Avenue, Suite 322, Huntington, WV 25701.