Lana Holmes Jones, 81, of Etowah, NC, and former educator of Henderson County Public Schools, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2024, at The Landings of Mills River after an extended illness. She was born August 7, 1943, in Huntington, WV, to the late John and Beulah Holmes. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 47 years, Garland “Garry” Thomas Jones, Jr.

She was a graduate of Western Carolina College, where she was so proud to have been on the football cheerleading squad and to have been a sister in the Delta Zeta sorority. She met, fell in love, and married Garry while they attended college. She graduated with an education degree. She taught for nearly 30 years in Henderson County, first as a P.E. teacher and art teacher at Rugby Junior High and then for the majority of her tenure as a teacher for the “Gifted and Talented” program at many Henderson County elementary schools, including Balfour, Etowah, Fletcher. She was adored by her students, and in return, she adored all of her students. She was a member of Etowah Baptist Church.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Landings of Mills River and Four Seasons Hospice for their compassion and care.

Lana is survived by her two sons Mark (wife Tabatha) and Tom (wife Nancy); grandchildren Lana Henderson (husband Stephan), Mollie Conner (husband Kyle), Thomas Jones, and Lucy Jones; sister Karin Levi; niece Kelly Jones; and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will take place at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel at Church Street Funeral and Cremation, 125 South Church Street, Hendersonville, NC, Saturday, September 21, 2024, with the Rev. Jonathan Jenkins officiating. Family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Lana’s memory to the The Landings of Mills River, “Staff Fund”, 4143 Haywood Road, Mills River, NC 28759, or to The Arts Council of Henderson County, P.O. Box 767, Hendersonville, NC 28739.