If you ever met Kate Jones, you knew that she loved life and took risks. But what always kept her grounded were her friends, family and her faith in God.
Jones died on Feb. 17 at 16 years old, following a utility task vehicle accident. But Jones' mom, Susan Jones, said being a daredevil was always in her spirit.
"Little Kate Jones. She was not going to die of something like the flu," Susan said. "It was going to be something crazy."
"She had my crazy, sarcastic humor and my sister's potty mouth." - Susan Jones, Kate's mother
A memorial service was held at Athens First Presbyterian Church in honor of Jones, and Susan said more than 800 people were in attendance.
"I knew Kate had friends, but I didn't know she had this many friends," Susan said. "She never met a stranger."
A fundraiser was set up in honor of Jones on Feb. 19 to raise money for the family's hospital fees. In four days, the campaign raised more than $16,000.
Susan said Jones had a lot of late-night adventures and soccer-game wins, but Jones' favorite hobbies were attending Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande or Fifth Harmony concerts.
Kate Jones enjoyed spending time with her friends, going to concerts and going on adventures.
Courtesy of Susan Jones"Probably one of my best Kate stories was I would always buy her the $40 nose-bleed tickets," Susan said. "So I bought her two so she could take one of her friends to Justin Bieber."
By the end of the night, Susan said, Jones snuck out of her seats to get a closer look at Bieber.
"She made her way down to the stage and came home with Justin Bieber's water bottle," she said. "She's got his half-drank Fiji water bottle in her room."
Susan said she had hoped to put the water bottle in Jones' coffin, but after a maid came to clean the house, she said she thinks they put the bottle in the trash.
When not at a concert, Susan said Jones and her friends would spend time at their house, usually ending up in Susan's bed.
Kate Jones enjoyed spending time with her friends, going to concerts and going on adventures.
Courtesy of Susan Jones"I'd be out in the den with my glass of wine watching Food Network," Susan said, "And there would be anywhere from five to 10 people that would come in my room because it was the comfiest."
Susan said she told all of Jones' "posse," as Susan called them, to keep that tradition alive.
"I told them 'I want you to keep on coming over,'" she said. "And they all promised me that they would."
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked individuals to donate to the organization Extra Special People and Athens First Presbyterian Church in Jones' honor.
"She knew how to get everyone in a good mood," Susan said. "She had my crazy, sarcastic humor and my sister's potty mouth. That's Kate."
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