Mary Southall Jones

Mary Southall Rose Jones, October 17, 1941 – August 30, 2021 of Durham, North Carolina Mary Southall Rose Jones, born October 17, 1941 in Durham, NC died peacefully, and fully vaccinated, with a sense of resilience, courage, and strength in an adult family care home in Durham, NC on August 30, 2021 at the age of 79. She survived the recent pandemic but passed from the complications of a progressive neurodegenerative disease.

A proud native of Durham, NC, Southall graduated from Durham High School in 1959 and Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She continued her education at Sandhills Community College in Sanford, NC with a nursing (RN) degree. After working in the healthcare field for several years throughout her life as a pharmacy tech, LPN and RN, she focused much of her time and energy as a single parent to raise her daughters to continue the family tradition to be strong, independent Southern women within their chosen careers and life, which brought her tremendous joy.

Southall, often described as a “character” by all who knew her as it brought a smile to others, was well-known for her quirky humor and unique outlook on life and brought this spirit to being a swim team and marching band parent, member of the women’s group at Epworth United Methodist Church as well as the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), General Davie Chapter of Durham, NC.

Southall will fondly be remembered for her courage, strength, and independence in spite of difficult circumstances which she encountered throughout her lifetime and persevered through these obstacles with grace and love. She was never afraid to speak her mind and enrich others with her presence. Her greatest gift was the love for her family.

Southall is survived by her two beloved daughters, Southall “Rose” Jones of Durham, NC and Margaret Wade Jones of Nashville, TN. She is also survived by her two nieces -- Sarah Warner Burdick (Michael) of Monee, IL and Susan Warner Nance (Ben) of Nashville, TN along with nephew, Lawrence Warner (Genevieve) of London, England. Additional survivors include five grandnieces & 2 grandnephews.

The family greatly appreciates the care provided by the adult family care home “Changing Places” and the care provided there, especially by her cherished caregiver, Delphine “Dee” Holder of Durham, NC who provided moments of love, care, and laughs during the last two years of life and then decline. She was preceded in death by her sister, Susan Emily Rose Warner as well as her parents, Susan Singleton and Marion Simon Rose of Durham, NC.

A celebration of Southall’s life and spirit will be held graveside at the Rose Family plot at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham, NC, at 11 AM on October 2, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to DAR, General Davie Chapter of Durham, NC.

The Jones family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.