11/10/2025
With a mixture of sadness and gratitude, this is to report that Ann Laird Jones is retiring as Montreat’s Arts Ministry Director at Thanksgiving. Beginning in December, Ann will assume the role of potter emerita at Sally Jones Pottery, a position once occupied by her mother, Marilyn Jones.
For more than five decades, Ann has served Montreat in countless ways. Through the welcoming arms of the Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery, she has offered hospitality to thousands, encouraging both the reluctant and the eager to embrace the joy of creating and expressing themselves – and God’s gifts – through art.
Many have known the warmth of the community created around the canvas-covered tables, and have walked away with treasures, some pottery and some relational. Along the way, Ann has developed a talented guild of dedicated artists, teachers, artisans, kind souls, and volunteers to support this ministry.
Elsewhere, Ann contributed mightily to our worship life, serving with many others on the team that prepares and manages our summer Sunday worship services. Over the years, Ann provided energy and ideas for liturgy, music, and visual art that helped illuminate each Sunday. She also served as the architect of our summer Arts, Music, and Theology lecture series. She has pursued these tasks and many others with relentless enthusiasm, focused
vision, and a yearning to show others the love of Christ.
As noted, Ann's lifelong tenure of service will continue in the new role of potter emerita; artists and would-be artists in our community will continue to benefit from her voice and experience. And yet, Ann decided that the time was right to pass the baton of leadership of
Sally Jones Pottery and other aspects of our arts ministry to a team she has mentored for years. That group is ready and able, and will no doubt continue the traditions of hospitality and creativity that form the cornerstone of Currie Craft Center and the heart of Sally Jones
Pottery programs.
Ann’s ministry has long been one of living in gratitude to God for the gift of human creativity, for the beauty around us, and for the blessings we find in community with one another. Please join me in giving thanks for Ann’s presence among us.
Gratefully,
Carol (Steele)
