Mona Florette Jones Newbern, 89, of Tifton, died Saturday, February 12, 2011, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 14, 2011, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Larry Layfield will officiate with burial to follow in Tift Memorial Gardens. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 13, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Newbern was born on May 26, 1921 in Turner County and was the daughter of Warren Jackson Jones and Rosie Mabelle Jenkins Jones, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Lester William Newbern; three sisters; and two brothers. She was a homemaker and a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Chula.
Mrs. Newbern is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Faye and James Meders of Rocky Point, North Carolina, Gail and James Gray of Tifton, Betty and Charles Sullivan of Tifton and Elaine and Brantley O’Neal of Albany; one sister, Galia Harrell of Sycamore; 13 grandchildren, Jimmy Meders, Stacey Meders, Laurie Roder, Leigh Pittman, Vickie Morse, Lisa Hogan, Alice Mitchell, John Anthony Powell, Timothy William Powell, Rebecca Brink, David Sullivan, Tommy Sullivan and James Sullivan; 29 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society, Tift County Unit, P. O. Box 7514, Tifton, GA 31793 or the American Heart Association, 305 University Drive, Suite #1, Valdosta, GA 31602.