Linda Rutherford Jones

Linda Rutherford Jones, 81, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many, went to Heaven Wednesday night with Pat Jackson, her faithful sister-in-law for over sixty years, by her side.

She was a true Christian, and a devoted member of Bible Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Savannah High School and attended Armstrong College many years later. She began her business career with the Savannah Morning News and Evening Press, but her real talents were soon recognized after she joined Palmer & Cay Insurance Company, where she eventually became the administrative assistant to John Cay. Her love of her work was only part of her life evidenced by her willingness to help others in time of need. As a newly-married wife, she spent countless hours after work and on weekends helping her husband and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, share the care of her terminally ill mother-in-law, Sarah Lain Douglas. Prior to her daughter Susan’s death, she volunteered at Hospice Savannah. After her husband of fifty-seven years, Captain “Wild Bill” Jones, suffered Alzheimer’s disease, she devoted every day to his care for over two years. While she suffered with dementia, she never lost her quick and sharp wit in conversation with others. The day before going to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was an uplifting day with her sisters-in-law, Pat and Dale sharing fun stories about their times with her and her husband, Bill. That day, her sense of humor was alive and well. Pat had gone to the snack bar and coming back down the hall, she heard, “Where is Pat?” She stepped into the room and said, “I’m right here, what’s wrong, Linda?” Linda said, “They want to put this Darth Vader mask on me!” Pat leaned close to her ear and explained that the mask was temporary while they gave her meds for her pneumonia. Linda looked at the respiratory therapist, and said, “Okay, I’m ready.” He said, “Ready for what, Mrs. Jones?” (Thinking she was going to say something profound like, I’m ready to go to Heaven or I’m ready to meet Jesus.) Instead, she replied, “I’m ready to put the mask on so I can breathe easier.” The therapist smiled and said, “Well, we’re glad you want to breathe.” Linda said, “Well, we all know what happens when you don’t breathe.” Everyone laughed, including Linda! When asked if she wanted to go to the Hospice House, she said, “No. The doctors say they think they can fix my pneumonia.” That was our Lindabird. She found something to laugh about and was a fighter to the end.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is predeceased by her mother and father, Dallas and Homer Rutherford, her only beloved brother, Lynn Rutherford, and her only beloved sister, Mary Helen Rutherford, her husband, William E. Jones, and their daughter, Susan Jones Nowicki, her mother-in-law, Sarah Lain Douglas, her grandfather-in-law, Chief Fire Inspector Willie Lain, and her grandmother-in-law, Nellie Lain, and very special Uncles and Aunts, Jimmy and Jennie Morris, and Charles and Joan Morris.

She is survived by her grandson, Justin Nowicki and her great-grandson, Kai Nowicki, her sister-in-law, Pat Rutherford, brother-in-law, Bobby Jones and his wife Dale, brother-in-law, Gordon Lee Douglas and his wife Sarah, sister-in-law, Pat Jackson and her husband Danny, sister-in-law, Brenda Olson, sister-in-law, Kathy Graham and her husband Winston, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who all loved her dearly.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced once finalized.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, or to Bible Baptist Church.