About

The Jones High School Historical Society, Inc.

Established in 1997, The Jones High School Historical Society, Inc. was founded by visionaries who realized the value in preserving the legacies of  students, faculty and administrators. Their vision was to establish an organization to provide a permanent site for memorabilia, books, articles, musical works and art by, for and about Jones High School’s students and graduates.

The Historical Museum houses a gallery of works by Jones High School alumni. The gallery serves as an incentive to students and graduates of Jones High School. Initiating founders are:

  • Leroy Argett
  • Samuel Lumpkin
  • Audrey H. Reicherts
  • Earline Tillman
  • James W.  Wilson

Our School

Believed to have been established in 1895, the school now known as Jones High School was first an old frame building on the southwest corner of Garland Avenue and Church Street. Later it was moved to the corner of Jefferson and Chatham Streets and was named Johnson Academy in honor of Lymus Johnson, the principal.

In 1912, L. C. Jones became the principal of Johnson Academy. Under his leadership, a new school was built in 1921 on the corner of Washington Street and Parramore Avenue.  Because his family donated the land for the school, the school was renamed Jones High School. The students of grades six through ten were moved in. Near the later part of Jones’ administration, the remaining grades were moved from Johnson Academy to Jones High School, and the school term was lengthened from five to nine months. By 1929, grades one through twelve were in operation. In 1931, Jones High School had its first graduating of students completing the twelfth grade. At the end of this term, Mr. Jones was transferred to Oakland, Florida, and A. J. Polk was named principal. C. W. Banks replaced Polk in 1935.

Principals succeeding Mr. Banks were the following:

  • Cecil W. Boston | 1954 - 1964
  • Claudius J. Manigault | 1964 - 1968
  • Wilbur S. Gary | 1968 -  1975
  • Henry C. Wright | 1975 -  1981
  • Clara S. Walters | 1981 -  1990
  • Victoria Johnson | 1990 - 1991
  • Eddie Sneed | 1991 - 1999
  • Andrew Jenkins | 1999 - 2003
  • Lorenzo Phillips | 2003 - 2006
  • Bridget Williams | 2006 - 2010
  • Valeria Maxwell  | 2010- 2015
  • Roderick Waldon  | 2015 - 2017
  • Allison J. Kirby | 2017 - Present

In 1952, Jones High School moved to its current home on Rio Grande Avenue.  Updates in the school’s physical plant has continued, meeting the needs of expanded academic curriculum and extracurricular activities.