Murfreesboro Has Lost a Leader

Aug 09, 2012 at 12:55 pm by bryan


Murfreesboro lost a beloved local leader in the community. Ellen Rebecca Ransom Jones passed away on Thursday at the age of 99. Descendent of several prominent and early Rutherford County families, the Ransom family traces their roots to a Richard Ransom, born 1752, from the Isles of Wight, United Kingdom who settled in Rutherford County in the early 1800’s. Mrs. Jones mother was Frances Elam Ransom, and her father was Joe C. Ransom who served as Chairman for the Rutherford County Court in the early 1900’s.

Her husband of 68 years, Jennings A. Jones and a son, Russell C. Jones, preceded Mrs. Jones in death. She is survived by a daughter, Frances J. Vaughan and son-in-law J. Paul Vaughan; a son, William Ransom Jones and daughter-in-law Wren Jones; a daughter, Ellen Jones Dupps and son-in-law Ralph Dupps; a daughter-in-law Christina Jones and her husband Sam Lynah; grandchildren Steven Vaughan, Laura Vaughan Buechler, Sharon M. Vaughan, Ralph Dupps, III, Andrew Dupps, Rebecca Dupps Edwards, Meredith Jones Tecco, Erika Jones, William Ransom, Jr. and Jennings H. Jones; and thirteen great grandchildren.

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Mrs. Jones and her husband were fond of travel and went to many interesting and unusual places all over the world. They collected many pieces from their many travels which they displayed in their home.

Mrs. Jones was a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, a long-time member of the Women’s Club, a Rosarian, and a member of the Little Garden Club. She was a dedicated horticulturist and will long be remembered for her beautiful rose gardens and flower arrangements.

Mrs. Jones was an officer and Director of the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation, a private charitable foundation founded in 1989 with her husband, Jennings. The Foundation has collaborated with the County of Rutherford, the City of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University, and the Business Education Partnership of the Chamber of Commerce, and other specific not-for-profit entities to provide unique and challenging learning opportunities for our children that was not available through public funding. A few of the many programs which the Foundation helped start-up and/or support were, Crime Stoppers, the educational Mini-grants available to City and County teachers, the MTSU Center for Economic Education, Mac Fadden magnet school, the Discovery School, the Discovery Center at Murfree Springs, Read to Succeed, the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra, Special Kids, as well as numerous workshops for teachers in the areas of economics, reading, science, and teaching of the gifted.

Mrs. Jones and her husband were also personally active and supportive of the Jesse C. Beesley Foundation. The Foundation offers low cost spay and neuter services for the community.

Graveside services will be at 2:30 PM Saturday at Evergreen Cemetery. Rev. John Hinkle will officiate. Visitation with the family will be after 12 Noon Saturday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel until time of services Memorials may be made to Linebaugh Library, the Jesse C. Beesley Foundation Program or the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring. Woodfin Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangments.

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