Bertha Mae Jones

Long-time resident and retired businesswoman, Bertha Jones, 96, passed away Tuesday, November 6, 2012 in a local care facility.
With her husband, the late C.H. Jones, Bertha owned and operated Jones Theatres in Weatherford beginning with the opening of the Plaza Theatre in 1941 until their retirement in 1975. In 1948, they built one of the first drive-in theatres, Jones Drive-in, in this part of the country and also operated the Palace and Texan Theatres.
Bertha Mae Hicks was born December 11, 1915 in Cooke County, Texas, moving to Sanger as a girl where she attended school. She married Carlos Jones of Sanger on October 9, 1933 and moved to Lawton, Oklahoma where they joined his brother in opening a theatre. Seven years later, the young family moved to Weatherford, Texas to get out of “show business”. However, after Carlos realized he couldn’t work for “the other guy”, the rest is local entertainment history.
Community service was very important to the Joneses. They provided free movies at Christmas with admission being a toy for Toys for Tots, the Pythian Home children were welcomed to the movies free of charge at any time and many residents still remember the free birthday shows for both their daughter and granddaughter.
Bertha Jones’ civic involvement included membership in the Lady Lions, the Pythian Sisters, the Twentieth Century Club and Beta Sigma Phi. Her lifelong career with her husband in show business earned both of them a membership in the Foundation of the Motion Picture Pioneers. Bertha was a sixty-plus year member of First Baptist Church, singing in the choir for many years.
Survivors include her daughter, Roberta Furman; granddaughter, Carla Johnson and her husband, Sid, all of Weatherford. She is also survived by an extended family of nieces, nephews and long-time family friends.
Her memory may be honored with a gift to the local Meals on Wheels or the American Heart Association.

Visitation will be from 6-8 pm, Thursday, November 8, 2012 at Galbreaith
Pickard Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 am
Friday, November 9, 2012 at First Baptist Church of Weatherford with Dr.
Tom Shelton officiating. Burial will follow at 3 pm in the Sanger
Cemetery in Sanger, Texas.