Mrs. Betty Jones Dawkins

Betty Jean Jones Dawkins born on December 1, 1928, went home to her Heavenly Father on October 29, 2022. Mrs. Dawkins was born in Thunder, Georgia to the late Jewell Beckham Jones and Benjamin Hill Jones. She graduated from R.E. Lee Institute class of 1945 where she was known as a fun loving, beautiful friend to many, spending a great deal of time with friends at Barker’s pool, dancing and making sweet memories. She married James Dawkins in 1948 and began a career in various office management jobs in Thomaston including the Ga. High School Association and Bostwick Furniture. Betty and James were blessed with a baby boy, Jimmy, on Dec. 30, 1959, and spent the next years enjoying family trips, cookouts, and following Jimmy in sports. They built a good life and made many special memories at the lake on their property on Sharp Road. Jimmy preceded both parents in death in Jan. 1979.

Betty was a devoted wife. She and James met on the courthouse square in Thomaston and were married in 1948 when she was 19 years old. She supported James in his career and was admired by players and their parents alike who knew that if she was involved, all would be perfectly executed.

Betty loved her community and served in several leadership efforts to promote Thomaston. She became involved with the Thomaston /Upson County Chamber of Commerce and was known as the membership recruiter extraordinaire as business owners found it difficult to say “no” to her! She was an active member of the Upson Historical Society, the Spade and Trowel Garden Club, Leadership Upson, Thomaston Archives Volunteers and Thomaston/Upson County Arts Council. She took pride in her membership in Daughters of the American Revolution. Betty received much recognition for her efforts to promote growth and pride in the community.

Betty was a loyal member of the First Presbyterian Church of Thomaston and served in several positions with Women of the Church and on various committees.

She is preceded in death by her husband James Dawkins; her son Jimmy; her parents; two brothers, Benjamin H. Jones, and Charles H. Jones; sister Jacqueline Anne Williams; sister-in-law Dana Jones MacMillan; nieces Judy Jones Hay, Jan Jones Ward; nephew Jeff Jones; and great nephew Mitchell Smith.

She is survived by several family members including sisters-in-law Fairy Dawkins Jackson and Emily Jones Bredeson; cousin, Freddy Jones, nieces Sherron Smith, Deidre Nelson (Ed), Bene’ Lance (Chuck), Stella Brown (Keith), Susan Harrell (Henry), Cindy Hewitt (Ken), Sandy Jackson; nephews Steve Coleman (Debbie), Alan Coleman(Angie), Dwight Jones (Tracy), Ross Jackson (Wendy), Wes Agnew (Janet), Frank Agnew (Gina); great nieces Jennifer Chandler, Kim Williamson, Kate Venugopal, Christy Fiveash, Elizabeth Bacon, Chase Machamer, Mary Claire Patterson, Stephanie Anthony, Jessica Smith, Hannah Henning ; Great nephews Stephen Hay, Jones Mashburn, Mark Mashburn, Drew Coleman, Mathew Coleman, Bryon Coleman, Corbin Jones, Conner Jones, Barron Jones, Blake Jones.

The family is deeply grateful for the wonderful care and comfort that Betty received from Thomaston Hospice and the West Village Retirement Community and for the many years of care and nurturing by Sinclair Mallory, Beth Trice and Mindy Daniel.

Services will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Fletcher Day Funeral home. Visitation will be held at 1:00 pm followed by the funeral at 2:00 p.m. Graveside services will follow at Southview Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Thomaston or Thomaston Hospice.

Fletcher-Day Funeral Home of Thomaston is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com.