GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2005
RATIFIED BILL
RESOLUTION 2005-47
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 197
A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF JOHN WESLEY JONES, FORMER EDUCATOR AND INFLUENTIAL LEADER.
Whereas, John Wesley Jones grew up in the City of Wilson; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones graduated from Charles H. Darden High School in 1941 at the age of 15; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones spent a year helping to construct a new addition to Charles H. Darden High School before attending North Carolina A & T State University; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones’s college education was interrupted by World War II when he was drafted into the United States Navy; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones returned to North Carolina A & T State University after serving in the United States Navy, earning a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1948 and later receiving a masters degree in mathematics; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones was a schoolteacher in Greene and Wilson Counties from 1948 to 1968 and served as an assistant principal and principal in the Wilson County public schools from 1968 to 1988; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones served the education community proudly as a member of State and national organizations, including the North Carolina Teachers Association, Inc., the North Carolina Association of Educators, Inc., and the National Education Association; and
Whereas, after his retirement as a principal, John Wesley Jones continued to be an advocate for education by becoming a member of the Wilson County Board of Education, serving as a member from 1988 to 2004 and as the Chair for one term; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones rendered distinguished service to his community by helping to establish the Charles H. Darden High School Alumni Association, Inc., in 1971, a national, nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to promote the educational, cultural, and social level of the community; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones’s success in establishing the Alumni Association has allowed former students of Charles H. Darden High School, who now live in other parts of the country, to communicate and stay in touch with each other, resulting in an annual reunion held in the City of Wilson and reunions held in other states; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones served as the Alumni Association’s first president and later as executive secretary to the board of directors; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones’s vision to build a community center came true in 1991 when the Charles H. Darden Alumni Center opened, providing a location for a tutorial program and community activities; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones was a member of the National North Carolina A & T State University Alumni Scholarship Committee, which provided four-year scholarships to deserving high school graduates and helped students achieve their dreams of attending college; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones was active in the American Legion Post #17, NAACP, Men’s Civic Club, served as treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Hattie Daniels Day Care Center, and was a charter member and past president of the Beta Beta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones was a devoted member of the Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church, serving on the Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and as Chair of the Construction Committee for the Education Building; and
Whereas, John Wesley Jones died on April 3, 2004; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly honors the life and memory of John Wesley Jones for the service he rendered to his community, State, and nation.
SECTION 2. The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of John Wesley Jones for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3. The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of John Wesley Jones.
SECTION 4. This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 9th day of August, 2005.
From The Trojan (1964), the yearbook of Charles H. Darden High School.