Marie Jones

Marie Hurlocker Jones, 89 years old, of Albemarle, passed away Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Stanly Regional Medical Center in Albemarle. Marie was born February 12, 1927 in Stanly County to the late Albern Walter Hurlocker and the late Mary Surilla Lowder Hurlocker. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years,William Bain Jones, Sr.

A graduate of the Albemarle City Schools and Women's College (UNC-G), Marie taught choral music at Lindley Junior High School in Greensboro and Endy High School. Shortly after returning to Albemarle, she became the Organist Choir Director at First Lutheran Church. She developed the music program at First Lutheran for the Children's, Youth, Adult and Hand Bell choirs. Marie enjoyed working with the National Chorister's Guild taking her youth choirs to regional competitions and helped to develop the Youth Choir Joint Concerts for churches in Albemarle. She was recognized for outstanding service to the Chorister's Guild in 1980. In addition to her work with church music, Marie taught piano, organ and violin for fifty years. She was inducted into the National Association of Piano Teachers Hall of Fame in 1983. An active member of the Charlotte American Guild of Organists, Marie had served in various leaderships positions. When Marie retired as Organist Choir Director in 2014 after 65 years of service, Governor McCory recognized Marie with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for outstanding service to the State of North Carolina. First Lutheran Church honored her as Organist Choir Director Emeritus at her retirement. Marie loved the many students, choir members, families and congregations she worked with as a musician.

Like her parents, Marie was involved in Albemarle and Stanly County. She was an original member of the Hawthorne Garden Club and served as President of the Garden Club Council for Albemarle when they initiated the International Christmas Tree Display. As a member of the Stanly County Historical Preservation Commission, Marie helped to establish the Stanly County History Museum and the Historical Survey for Stanly County. Marie also worked with North Carolina Historical Preservation. Marie was one of the founding members of the Stanly County Community Concerts and served in various capacities in development of this program. An avid, competitive golfer, Marie enjoyed playing with many friends at the Stanly County Country Club and High Meadows Country Club. Marie was also involved with the Tar Heel Senior Women's Association. She loved being with her family, gardening and playing bridge.

Marie will lie in state from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Hartsell Funeral Home-Albemarle. The funeral service will be on Wednesday at 1:00 pm at First Lutheran Church, 230 South Second Street, Albemarle. Rev. John Futterer will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church Fellowship Hall. The burial will follow at Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery, 20987 NC 73 Hwy, Albemarle, at 4:00 pm.

She is survived by her two sons, W. Bain (Elizabeth Lindley "Betsy") Jones, Jr. of Raleigh and Stuart M.(Margaret Green "Peggy") Jones of Charlotte; six grandchildren, Lindley Marie Jones, Katharine Elizabeth Hall Jones, Stuart M. (Kathryn) Jones, Jr., Elliott Alexander Jones, Preston Davis Jones, and William Cameron Jones; two sisters, Martha Bledsoe (Lou) of Charlotte and Margaret McGee (J.C.) of Asheville; and her sister-in-law, Gretchen Jones, of Memphis, Tennessee.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, 230 South Second Street, Albemarle, NC 28001.

Jeff and Jane Hartsell, close family of Marie, of Hartsell Funeral Home are serving the Jones family.