Freeman B. Jones, Sr. (1911–1984)

Born on October 12, 1911, in Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama, Freeman Benjamin Jones, Sr. was the youngest son of Frank and Alice Nobles Jones, born into a family grounded in labor, faith, and integrity. His early years were shaped by loss—his mother passed away in 1922—but also by an enduring family commitment to education and community uplift.

Raised in the Whistler and Plateau neighborhoods of Mobile County, Freeman stood out as a young scholar during an era when African Americans faced enormous barriers to education. By 1930, he was living with his siblings, including his sister Gertrude, in a household filled with love, literacy, and ambition. Like many children of the Jim Crow South, Freeman understood that education was the clearest path to advancement—and he pursued it with resolve.

In 1932, he married Emma Bush, and together they built a family grounded in love and purpose. Freeman and Emma had several children, including Evelyn Patricia, Ethel Louise, Alice Valerie, and Freeman Jr., all of whom would benefit from the example set by their father’s leadership in both the classroom and the home.

Freeman’s teaching career began in the 1930s, and by the 1940 Census, he was already serving as a school principal at Mount Vernon, earning a government salary during the Great Depression. Though the pay was modest, the work was meaningful. He was more than an instructor—he was a mentor, disciplinarian, role model, and voice of encouragement in a segregated school system that routinely undervalued African American educators. By that time, Freeman had also completed two years of college—an impressive academic achievement that further solidified his qualifications and commitment to professional excellence. His commitment to the profession was so profound that he opened his home to fellow teachers; in 1940, three educators boarded with him and his family, creating a household centered not only on kinship, but on collective service to education and community uplift.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Freeman became one of Mobile County’s most respected educators. He served as principal of Whistler Elementary School, located in the Prichard community. He later transitioned to teaching at Ella Grant Elementary, Central High, Toulminville High and Williamson High, all located in the Mobile area, where he inspired generations of young learners. By the 1950 Census, he was working full-time at City Grammar School (now Mobile County Training School), balancing his professional responsibilities with raising a household of nine.

Known for his patient demeanor, commanding presence, and commitment to educational equity, Freeman was beloved by colleagues, parents, and students alike. His obituary in The Mobile Register described him as a “dedicated educator and community leader.” Beyond the classroom, Freeman was active in his church, civic organizations, and was often consulted for advice on family and community matters. He had a quiet but profound influence on Mobile’s African American educational landscape.

Freeman B. Jones, Sr. passed away on February 6, 1984, in Mobile County. He was buried in the city he served so faithfully. He left behind a legacy not only of academic instruction but of personal integrity, faith in the transformative power of education, and unwavering love for his family and community.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

— Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)