CHAPEL HILL - Mrs. Darlene Caudle Jones, 77, died Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, following a brief and courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Winston-Salem on June 6, 1927, to Brittie Lee Angel and William Alexander Caudle. With her husband, she made her home in Chapel Hill for 46 years and retired from the Environmental Protection Agency at Research Triangle Park in 1981. For many years, she was an active member of the Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel Hill and in the last decade, a member of the University Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, where she participated in the Senior Choir, church newsletter and kitchen and bereavement committees. Darlene was a devoted and loving wife, mother and "honorary" grandmother to Eli, Corbin and Braden, who knew her simply as "Oma." She will always be remembered for her love of birds and the beauty of her bountiful gardens, whose blooms brightened many hearts and homes. A woman of boundless enthusiasm, Darlene shared her delight in the simple gifts of life and brought joy, laughter, love and confidence to all who knew her. She will be missed greatly, but her family finds comfort in knowing that she is once again with all the Angels in Heaven. Darlene leaves her beloved husband of 55 years, Charles Ray Jones; a daughter, Jenifer Leigh Jones of Charlotte; a brother, William Alexander Caudle Jr. of Mocksville; a sister-in-law, Gloria Caudle of Advance; a brother-in-law, John Eller of Swansboro; loving aunts Millie Transou and India Crow of Winston-Salem; six nephews; two nieces; three great-nephews; nine great-nieces; and three very special "honorary" grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Darlene's life at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at University Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. Dr. Mitchell Simpson will officiate. The family will receive guests following the service in the fellowship hall and plan an interment at a later date at Forsyth Memorial Cemetery in Winston-Salem. The family expresses special thanks to the Hospice staff for their compassionate and tender care of our precious wife and mother. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to UNC Hospice, 480 Hillsboro St. No. 800, Pittsboro, NC 27312 or the University Baptist Church, 100 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514.


Published in the Winston-Salem Journal from 9/24/2004 - 9/25/2004