The Jaffrey-Rindge community will come together this weekend to honor one of their own – Rebecca Jones.
A benefit dinner and silent auction will be held at the Monadnock Bible Baptist Church in Rindge Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m to honor Jones, 23, who was killed in North Carolina on Oct. 24.
“This dinner is an opportunity for Jaffrey-Rindge and the larger community to extend support for the Jones family,” said Judy Unger-Clark, one of the event organizers.
Donations for her family will be accepted for the baked ziti dinner.
News of Jones’ death sent shockwaves through the community, as friends and family members continue to mourn the loss. Jones was strangled by her estranged fiance in Wilmington, North Carolina. He then shot and killed himself.
“She was always a fun, loving, and caring friend who would go out of her way to make you smile,” said high school friends Emily (Coll) Stauffeneker and Colleen Fordham. “We all understood each other inside and out, which made our friendship so strong. We will forever cherish and love Becca and be thankful to have her by our side through life.”
Stauffeneker and Fordham, both long-time friends of Jones, said that despite Jones moving to North Carolina five years ago, the three remained close and routinely embarked on road trips to visit each other.
“Rebecca to us, was a friend for a lifetime,” they said. “From middle school through high school and years to follow, we did it all together. Sleepovers, vacations to weddings, and everything in between was done together like sisters.”
Jones was born in Peterborough and raised in Rindge, graduating from Conant High School in 2011. Jones moved to North Carolina, where she was pursuing a career in nursing at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington. Jones was currently working at MedNorth Health Center as a certified medical assistant.
Items to be auctioned off include a two-night stay at Eagle Ridge Resort in Intervale, a five piece 20-volt DeWalt cordless tool set, a mini photo session with Sarah Swan Photography of Manchester, a gift certificate to the Inn at Valley Farms in Walpole, a gift certificate for a sleighride for up to 18 people at Silver Ranch in Jaffrey, a handmade hutch, and an excavation services gift certificate. Silent auction payments must be cash or check.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.