Charlene Elizabeth Jones, “Lady C,” age 71 years, of Austin, Texas, peacefully passed away at home on February 15, 2024, after a multitude of health complications spanning many years. Services will be held at Boone Funeral Home in Leland, Mississippi, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Visitation with the family will be at 10:30 a.m. and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Charlene Elizabeth Jones was born on May 3, 1952, to Murphy Merlin Jones and Jessie Elizabeth Turner Jones in Hollandale, Mississippi. After she graduated from Hollandale High School as valedictorian in 1969, she went on to study at David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee and then returned home to finish her college degree at Delta State University. Later she obtained her master’s degree in Psychology.
After graduating with a degree in English, Charlene Elizabeth Jones started her first job as a keypunch operator at Walker Farms in Stoneville, Mississippi. She then taught business machines in Greenville, Mississippi. After moving to Arkansas, she served as the church secretary at Dardanelle Church of Christ in Dardanelle, Arkansas. She taught high school English at Havana High School in Havana, Arkansas. Charlene worked as a business woman at River Valley Plumbing in Russellville, Arkansas, and as a substitute teacher. She was an editor at Computer Times and worked as a census worker in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Wherever she lived, Charlene Elizabeth Jones was actively involved in her community and was a member and often served as an elected officer in organizations such as Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, Newcomers Club, Parent Teacher Organizations, Girl Scouts, League of Women Voters, church groups, and various political party organizations. She actively researched genealogy for not only her own family but for the family of those she loved.
Charlene Elizabeth Jones was affectionately nicknamed “the Hornet” in her youth. Wherever she went, she made her unforgettable presence well-known to all. She lived life to the absolute fullest and enjoyed cooking, reading, keeping her many plants, singing, dancing, traveling, and making every holiday an over-the-top celebration for her children and family. Maski or Mumsy, as she was known to her different grandchildren, delighted in teaching them that same vibrancy of living and loving life. No matter what she did—she did it “her way.”
Charlene Elizabeth Jones was predeceased by her father, Murphy Merlin Jones; her mother, Jessie Elizabeth Jones; her brother, Vance Turner Jones; her brother, Paul Kennedy Jones; her half-brother, Magruder Jones; and her half-brother, Davis Vernon Jones.
Charlene Elizabeth Jones is survived by her spouse, Thomas Lee Isaac of Austin, Texas; her daughter, Sherry “Elizabeth” Baugh Szirbik (William Szirbik); her daughter, Phyllis “Marlene” Baugh Boshears (Jason Eric Boshears); her grandchildren, Lara Elizabeth Redman, Alan Francis Redman, Emilene Elizabeth Boshears, Alexander Eric Boshears, and Charles Herbert Boshears; her sister, Mary Ellen Jones Irby; her sister, Merlene Jones Chandler; her brother, Ronald Lucas Jones; as well as her step-son, Eastin Lee Isaac (Gabriella Marie Soza); her former spouse and father to her daughters, Jackie Eugene Baugh; and her former spouse, Terrance Kibiloski.