Romelia A. P. Thompson was one of the first students to attend the Mars Hill Academy, during its first term in 1871. When she was around 18 y ears old, she married George W. Jones of Estill Springs. One letter survives which Romelia wrote to her sister-in-law Erin Augusta (Owen) Thompson in March, 1888:

"Dear Sister, I will after so long a time write you a few lines in answer to your kind and ever welcome letter I recon you think I dont intend to write you I dont think you would think hard of me if you knew how much work I have to do I am busy all the week and I go to church on Sundays and you see I have no time to write but I will try to do better here after.

"I cut those patterns and will send them to you I guess you will [k]now how they are to be made if you dont [k]now how to cut them and fix them if you will go over and [ask?] aunt Bell[e] she will show you I will send you [these?] when I send the other things I have got the cloth but have not got them made yet I will make them as soon as I can and send them I have not got quite enough lace knot yet if you have not made any thing yet I would get Cross b[…]d Muslin and make some of them Mother Hubbards dresses I think they will look verry nice.  I wish you was clost to me so I could help you all I could.  Well we have had the biggest rain I ever saw the Creek was higher here than it was ever nown to be before it likede to have washed away all the ground we had that was any account and it washed away nearly all our fence that was any ways clost to the creek.

"Well I must tell you I have had bad luck my Cherry cow is dead she had a little calf gust three weeks old when she died I am trying to raise it with greuel and milk she was Erins momy.  How is your garden looking mine dont look much, it rains so much that things cant grow.  I have plenty of Turnip Salit.  I have not got but a few little chickins I have five hens setting.  we have been looking for Bud and Jim over here since last Sunday to sign some papers.

"Tell Florence I think she might write to her old ugly Sister some times.  I think some times she has surely forgotten there was such a person as me.  tell her I guess though she does not have time I recon when she is not studdying her book she is studdying about some of the boys.  Miller and Granville has been up here all evening it is so wet they cant work to do any good.  so they thought they could come a visiting.  well it is getting late I will close for this time write soon to your Sister

"Romie Jones

"Well I dont know what is the matter with me I make so many mistakes, but I hope you can read it.  give my love to all and retain a share for your self this leaves all well except bad colds I dont feel verry well to night.  Write soon to [your?][…]  R A T."

Romelia's health began to fail soon after, and she died on 5 December 1890.  Both she and her husband are buried in the Mars Hill Cemetery. The Florence Times for Saturday, December 12, 1890, p. 3, gives her obituary: 

"Died. Mrs. Romie A. Jones, daughter of the late John A. Thompson and wife of Mr. Geo. W. Jones, died at their home on Katiebell street, last Friday after a lingering illness of ten weeks. During her life Mrs. Jones was a faithful member of the Christian church at Mars Hill and leaves an example worthy to be imitated by her many friends."

– Bio by Chris Hanlin