Effie Neal Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Effie Neal Jones
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| Born |
Effie Neal Bouldin
15 November 1919 Fairmont, North Carolina
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| Died | 30 April 2002 (aged 82) Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst, North Carolina [1]
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| Education | Public Schools of Robeson County, North Carolina |
| Occupation | Civil Rights Activist, Community Organizer, Food Services Provider and Counselor for the Four County Head Start Program |
| Spouse(s) | Forest Jones (Deceased) |
| Children | 9 |
Effie Neal Jones (born November 15, 1919 – died April 30, 2002) was an amazing American woman. She worked hard as a civil rights activist, helping people get equal rights. She also provided food services and was a counselor for the Four County Head Start Program in Laurinburg, North Carolina. In 1940, she married Forest Jones. Her parents were Colonel and Bertha Bouldin, from Maxton, North Carolina.
Contents
Effie Neal Jones: A Life of Service
Early Life and Moving North
Effie Neal Jones was born in Fairmont, North Carolina. She went to public schools in Robeson County. Even though she didn't have a lot of formal schooling, she was a very determined and smart person. When she was only 14, she took care of her 11 younger brothers and sisters after her mother passed away. Effie and her siblings worked with their father as sharecroppers, which meant they farmed land and shared the crops with the landowner.
In 1946, Mrs. Jones joined the Great Migration. This was a time when many African Americans moved from the Southern states to the North. They were looking for better lives, hoping to escape unfair treatment and poverty. Mrs. Jones moved north to find work and send money back home to her parents and children. She traveled often between North Carolina and New Jersey to make sure her family had a better future.
Fighting for Civil Rights
In 1952, Mrs. Jones moved to Newark, New Jersey. She worked as a housekeeper for a kind doctor. While living in Newark, she became very active in the Civil Rights Movement. She joined important groups like the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the Order of the Eastern Star, and the United Order of Tents. She helped African Americans register to vote and build community groups. These groups worked to gain political power in the state.
In 1964, Mrs. Jones returned to North Carolina because her father was very ill. She brought her knowledge and experience from the North back home. She teamed up with Dr. H. E. Edwards, a well-known civil rights leader and member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Together, they organized events like political fundraisers and voter registration drives. Their efforts sometimes faced challenges from people who did not want to see change.
Helping Children Through Head Start
In 1968, Mrs. Jones became one of the founding members of the Maxton Four County Community Services, Head Start Program. Head Start is a special program in the United States. It helps children from low-income families by providing education, health services, good food, and support for parents. It was created in 1965 to help fight poverty. By 2005, more than 22 million young children had been part of Head Start.
Mrs. Jones held several important jobs at Head Start. She was the Food Services Director and a Counselor for the program. She served the Maxton, North Carolina area, including Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and other local communities. She truly cared about making the community better by helping every child grow and learn. She strongly supported the rights of women, children, and families, no matter their background. Through Head Start, she led many education and mentoring programs. She believed that education was the key to overcoming poverty. After she retired in 1988, she often said her greatest joy was seeing her students grow into successful adults who helped their communities.
Family Life
In 1940, Effie Neal married Forest Jones. He was a brave US Army veteran of World War II and a skilled mechanic. Mrs. Jones was a mother to nine children: Rosemary, Roger, Carlton, Perry, Willie, Colonel, George, Patrick, and Michael. At the time of her passing, she had 29 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.
Passing Away
Effie Neal Jones passed away on April 30, 2002, at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, North Carolina. She died of heart failure.
See also
