Bertha Hopkins Jones

Bertha Hopkins Jones died peacefully Friday morning, July 17, 2009 in Duke Medical Center. She was 94 years old. Bertha was born in Statesboro, GA oneeptember 6, 1914 to the late Olmstead Key and Sara Barr Hopkins. Bertha spent her early years in Cuba with her parents who were Methodist missionaries, which lead to a lifelong devotion to the Spanish language and to the Latino community. Bertha was an active member of First Presbyterian Church and the Adult Bible Study class. She was a graduate of Georgia State College for Women and later received a Master's Degree in Library Science from Emory Uneersity. A kind and loving wife, mother and friend, Bertha loved nature and was passionee about her favorite past-time, bird watching. She was a long-time member of the NC Bird Club and voluneered couneess hours at the NC Botanical Gardens. Bertha was employed as a librarian at Duke Uneersity from 1939-1979 and also served as librarian at First Presbyterian Church for many years. Beloved by all who knew her, Bertha knitted baby caps for infants in the coneegation and also shared the caps with children around the world. Bertha is survived by her sonee. Lawrence Jones and wife, Carol, of Newport Beach, CA; her daughter, Phyllis Jeannette Jones and husband, Thomas Meek, of Oberlin, OH; her sister, Sara Hopkins Newton and husband, Edward, of Durham; and her grandson, Craig Jones of Irvine, CA. She was preceded ineeath by her husband, Thomas J. Jones, Jr., and her brother, Matthew Henry Hopkins. A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Joe Harvard and the Reverend Marilyneedgpeth presiding. Burial will be private in Maplewood Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family immediately after the service at a reception in Watts Hill Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 305 E. Main St., Durham, NC 27701. On-line memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select obituaries. Arrangements for the Jones' family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.