James O. Jones Sr.

Mr. Earnest Jones and Mrs. Perdis McKinney Jones welcomed their newborn son on May 16, 1943, in Rosston, Arkansas, and they named him James O. Jones. He would become one of ten children born into the blended Rowden and Jones family. James accepted his hope in Christ at an early age uniting with the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Willisville, Arkansas. While active as a young leader in the Pleasant Grove Church, James also worshipped with the Kendrick Chapel Baptist Church which was the home church of his father.

Like most children of his era, Jones and his siblings enjoyed helping on the family farm and attended public schools in Rosston, Arkansas. Graduating in 1961 from Rosston High School, James later enrolled in the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff completing his studies in 1964. He went on to earn a Masters of Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984. Additional graduate studies were undertaken at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

His May 16th birthday became a day of double celebration in 1963 when he married the love of his life, Mildred Neal of Dermott, Arkansas. Their nuptials at the local African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, would be the beginning of a wonderful and adventurous life for the next five decades. To this union three children were born: Thalia Denise, James Jr., and Bridgett Tené. Their lives would take them throughout the country until coming to Austin where they currently reside.

Attending school and later starting a family during the Civil Rights Movement was no small feat. James and Mildred often found themselves in the midst of profound challenges that made life-forming impressions in their character and constitution. James’ mild, yet articulate, manner proved valuable to the Movement placing him at the epicenter of major events throughout the South. His efforts and passion caught the eye of many of that era including, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While content to serve in the background, Civil Rights Leaders recognized James’ exceptional talent and were quick to recall his contributions to change throughout the South. He began his Civil Rights career with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). During his tenure with SNCC, he organized two major voter registration projects in West Helena, Arkansas, and Gould, Arkansas. These efforts made him a frequent target of violence and threats throughout the South. After his tenure with SNCC, he assumed a position with the Westinghouse Learning Center, Atlanta, Georgia, where he consulted on racial sensitivity training.

Beyond the family farm, James took his passion for the land and the hands that farmed it throughout the South. From 1965 to 1968, he traveled throughout Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina training sharecroppers and small farmers in basic business management and product marketing. In 1971, his expertise earned him the position as director of Field and Training Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Epps, Alabama, where he led the organization’s efforts to develop markets for small farmers to sell fresh produce and canned foods to major retail stores. He later served as the organization’s executive director.

As he grew in stature, he also grew in favor with men, and became affectionately known to many as Jim. Jim’s skills and talents were not only appreciated by his peers, but he was becoming well known throughout the country. He would later move his family to Austin, Texas, to share his expertise alongside his long-time colleague, Gus Townes, at the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Over three TDA administrations, Jim served in several capacities, including an agricultural developer for the Texas Agriculture Development Authority, coordinator for Fresh Produce Marketing, and senior marketing specialist. During his tenure, he helped Texas producers develop business relationships and markets for their fruits and vegetables with major retail chains in Texas and mid-America. To this day, some Texas producers are benefitting from the fruits of his labor.

Texas and Southern producers were not the only ones to benefit from Jim’s expertise. In the mid ‘90s, Jim accepted a special assignment from the United States Department of Agriculture as a consultant teaching small farmers in Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa. While on this month-long assignment, Jim shared his proven business and marketing practices thereby increasing their produce markets around the world. His international efforts were not limited to Africa. He also led a delegation of twenty-seven farmers from Texas to Israel to study drip irrigation practices that could be shared between producers in both nations.

Beyond his commitment to agriculture, Jim found time to affiliate with his peers. He became a member of the Epsilon Iota graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Jim was not selfish with sharing his skills and time with others. In 1991, he met a new-hire at TDA, and they quickly developed a strong mentor/mentee bond. That relationship would impact both of their personal and professional careers. In 1993, that young man accepted an additional assignment as the pastor of a local congregation, and Jim would join shortly thereafter.

In 1993, Jim joined the Rosewood Avenue Baptist Church under the leadership of his then mentee, now pastor, Coby Shorter, III. The next two decades, Jim could be found working in every ministry of the church. Jim became affectionately known throughout the congregation as well as the community as Deacon Jones. There was no task or event too big or small for Jim to be a part of in the life of the Rosewood Church. He willingly drove the church van, mowed the church grounds, helped in church construction projects, sang in the choir and counseled the youth. He was the church “go-to” man and a close confidant and encourager to his pastor and family.

In addition to serving as a church deacon, Jones was the Church Clerk, director of the Hope Basket Ministry, assistant director, and later director, of the Youth and Teen Ministry, adult women’s class Sunday School teacher, adult Vacation Bible School instructor, coordinator of the church’s Black History activities and exhibits, associate director of the church drill team, lead deacon for the music ministry, adult volunteer for Girl Scout Troop #1028 as well as the church’s Boy Scout troop, director for church transportation for auxiliary and church events, leader of the church’s theater and creative arts productions, and church liaison to the Blackshear Neighborhood Association. Jones was also commissioned by the Texas Secretary of State as a Notary Public.

With all a person like Deacon Jones had going on in his life, one would find it challenging to take on additional tasks. However, that was not the case for him. Upon retiring from TDA, Jim became a part of the City of Austin Child Safety Program and the city’s Safe Routes to School Program. For Jim, this role was more than being a school crossing guard, but a means of impacting the lives on students, parents and the community. He quickly became the “mayor” of every crosswalk in which he was assigned.

The James Jones life and legacy has been meaningful to all personally impacted but has also captured the attention of the nation. Toward the end of his professional career, Jones was recognized and interviewed by the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. for his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and the agricultural industry. Today, his contributions are being highlighted in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C.

On Saturday, June 1, 2019, 4:40 P.M., James O. Jones, Sr. received his call from life and labor to reward. Life came to a close at his residence, and Heaven’s Gates opened wide receiving a faithful servant. He joins his loved ones preceding him in death: his parents, Earnest Jones and Perdis McKinney Jones and his siblings: Willie Rowden, Shady Rowden, Ilene Rowden, Troy Rowden, and Charlie B. Jones.

Left to celebrate his legacy are his devoted wife of fifty-six years, Mildred Jones; his three children: Thalia “Necie” Cooper and her husband Gary, Leander, Texas, James O. Jones, Jr. and Bridget Tené Jones both of Austin, Texas; his siblings: Gladys Dockery, Willisville, Arkansas, Clara Rone, Texarkana, Texas, Chester L. Jones, Texarkana, Texas, and Jessie B. Jones, Chicago, Illinois; his brothers-in-law: Earnest Neal, Dermott, Arkansas, Richard Neal, Melville, Arkansas; his sisters-in-law: Annie Mae Turner, Dermott, Arkansas, Elsie Neal, Gary, Indiana, Joyce Ann Neal, Dermott, Arkansas; his grandchildren: Chelsie Nicole Geter, Leander, Terra Noel Jones, San Angelo; Briana Danyelle Brown, Austin, and Kiara Symone Haywood, Austin, his great grandchildren: Paris Barr and Aaron