For several years, Betty bravely fought the debilitating effects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). On March 22, 2016, Betty Jones, age 77 of Cumming, Georgia, passed away in the comfort of her home lovingly surrounded by her loving husband and her two sisters.

Betty was born in Dahlonega, Georgia on March 12, 1939, the oldest of three girls born to William Andrew Lunsford, Jr. and Dessie Ridley Lunsford. Betty grew up in Suches, Georgia and graduated from Woody Gap High School where she was named Miss Woody Gap High School, Most Popular, and Most Likely to Succeed.  And succeed, she did.  After high school, Betty attended Truett-McConnell College prior to her marriage to Johnnie Loy Jones of Dahlonega – a marriage that lasted over 58 years!  She later graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Betty’s first job was with Citizen’s and Southern National Bank in 1960 in the Audits Department and later promoted to the Real Estate Area as Controller and Assistant Manager in the Portfolio Management Department. Her business achievements included being named Vice President of Investment Operations for C&S Bank in 1978 and Senior Vice President in 1982.  In 1984 she was recognized as one of the “top 6 women in banking” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.  Betty continued to achieve honors and was named by Governor Joe Frank Harris to the Board of Directors of the Technical College System of Georgia in 1985. She was past president of the Georgia Executive Women’s Network and a member of the National Association of Accountants.

After a long and distinguished career in the banking industry, she retired in 1996 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Accounts with NationsBank.

Betty was preceded in death by her father, William Andrew Lunsford, Jr., and mother, Dessie Ridley Lunsford of Dahlonega. She is survived by husband, Johnnie Loy Jones of Cumming, sister Shirley Lunsford Davis of Alpharetta, and sister and brother-in-law Murl and Sue Lunsford Jones of Dahlonega. Betty was fiercely devoted to her two nieces (“her girls”); Julie Davis McCarty, and husband Shawn, of Woodstock and Amy Jones Dittrich, and husband Jeff, of Dacula, and her only nephew, Marion Andrew Davis, and wife Valerie Jones of Marietta.  She is survived by great nieces, Ella Ridley McCarty, Bailey Ann Dittrich, and a great nephew, Marion Andrew Davis, Jr.  She leaves behind numerous cousins and relatives who all love her very much.

Special thanks to Home Instead, Inc. and Halcyon Hospice of Cumming who provided loving care and support during Betty’s illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, March 25, 2016, at Dahlonega Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Hutcheson officiating.Interment will follow at Dahlonega Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends and relatives Thursday, March 24th, from 6-8 pm at Dahlonega Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to www.COPDfoundation.org in honor of Betty and to continue efforts to find a cure for this disease.

Online condolences may be expressed atwww.dahlonegafuneralhome.com

Arrangements by the professional staff of Dahlonega Funeral Home 20 Gibson Road, Dahlonega GA 30533 706-864-DOVE (3683)