Known to friends and family as the very definition of an all-American girl – bright, grounded and endlessly kind – Anna Jones brought warmth into every space she entered.
Today, her legacy lives on at the University of West Georgia through a memorial bench outside Kennedy Chapel and a newly established scholarship endowment created in her honor, reminders of a life that continues to inspire even in its heartbreaking absence.
“Faith was important to her,” recalled Jessica Maxwell, Anna’s mother. “She loved helping people out. That was one thing about Anna, she was very caring toward other people. She loved to make people laugh. If she could crack a smile on your face, that made her day. She just liked the simple things in life.”
“Whatever she did, she did it naturally and out of love,” said the Rev. Carl Jones, Anna’s father. “She always tried to do her best in any circumstances. She’d do anything she put her mind to. She was very strong, opinionated and value-driven.”
In July 2022, 18-year-old and UWG-bound Anna lost her life to gun violence. Her parents and the university are turning the family’s pain into purpose: her parents by establishing an endowment in Anna’s name for Tanner Health School of Nursing students to honor her dream of being a nurse, and UWG placed a bench in front of the John F. Kennedy Interfaith Chapel.
A Still Space
Inscribed with the scripture John 14:6 – “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’ ” – Kennedy Chapel was the perfect place for the serene bench recognizing the young woman of faith. The 35th president of the United States was also a victim of gun violence, which, in part, led to the renaming of the church after it was moved onto campus and dedicated in 1964 by his brother, Robert F. Kennedy.
Jones and Maxwell said the bench also serves as a reminder to “keep fighting the good fight.”
“Even though she’s gone, it’s a reminder for others to not lose hope,” Jones said. “Anna was what a West Georgia Wolf should be – someone who didn’t give up. We can’t change what happened, but we can make a positive message out of it and give society some positive light. It’s imperative to teach the next generation to help others.”
Maxwell hopes visitors will look at the bench and understand fully about Anna.
“I hope people not only read what is on it but also what led to the bench being there,” she added. “Also to educate them on being more careful and cautious because this world we live in now is nothing compared to what it used to be.”
A Legacy of Learning and Care
When it came time to college applications and acceptances, Maxwell remembers the day her daughter told her that UWG was the best fit for her.
“I didn’t want her to leave home anyway, so I was glad to hear that,” Maxwell recalled. “She also told me she wanted to go into nursing, which made sense because helping people heal was always something she was passionate about. Whatever type of nursing she was to go into, I don’t think it would’ve mattered. Whatever Anna did, she’d do it with passion, love and care. That’s just who she was. She knew her purpose in life and was determined to make a change to help others.”
Jones and Maxwell have created the Anna Jones Nursing Memorial Endowment to honor their daughter’s dream of being a nurse.
“The greater goal is to get as much light into this negative situation as we possibly can,” Jones added. “To slow down so other families don’t have to endure what Jessica, the family, the community and I had to go through.”
“This endowment is something from Anna to them,” Maxwell continued. “It warms my heart that they are getting the help they need – the single moms, the first-generation students and even adult learners. They’ll be able to pursue the dream that Anna had. That’s so important to us because that’s exactly what she intended on doing.”
From Pain into Purpose
Jones harkened back to a famous quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., himself yet another victim of gun violence: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
“We have a lot of pain that we’ve turned into purpose,” Jones reiterated. “We’re just letting our voices – bold but gentle, strong but courageous – be heard. We’re tired of people dying prematurely.”
Allyson Bretch, vice president for University Advancement and CEO of UWG’s philanthropic foundations, said UWG is humbled to help carry Anna’s legacy forward.
“This endowment is a profound expression of love and purpose while transforming a family’s love into lasting opportunities,” she expressed. “We are honored to partner with Anna’s parents in ensuring that her legacy supports students who will shape the future of our university and community. Their generosity ensures that Anna’s light will continue to guide and inspire for generations.”
Above all, Jones, Maxwell, their children and the community will continue to keep the love, faith and charity that epitomized Anna so well.
“No matter what happens in your lifetime, a parent should never have to bury their child,” Maxwell concluded. “Hold your babies tight, no matter how old they are. Protect them always.”
Those who wish to celebrate Anna’s life and help future nursing students can contribute to the Anna Jones Nursing Memorial Endowment online.
