McKinley Jones, Sr. (1923–2014)

Born on July 21, 1923, in Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama, McKinley Jones, Sr. was the son of Frank McKinley Jones and Pearl Johnson. He spent his early years in Jackson before the family settled in Prichard, Mobile County, Alabama, where he would build a life marked by hard work, service, and devotion to family.

By 1940, 17-year-old McKinley was living on Edison Street in Prichard, Alabama, with his father and brother, Calvin. A high school student at the time, McKinley was part of a household committed to creating better opportunities through education, despite the challenges of the Great Depression. He attended and graduated from Mobile County Training School, a place of profound historical and cultural significance.

Located in Africatown, Mobile County Training School is widely recognized as the cradle of Black public high schools in Mobile County. Established by descendants of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States, the school traces its origins to 1880, when those same descendants opened a place of learning at Union Baptist Church. In 1910, it moved to a newly constructed building on land donated by Clotilda descendants to the Mobile public school system. Designated by the state of Alabama as a public high school, Mobile County Training School holds the distinction of being the first Black public high school in Mobile. Under the leadership of Principal Isiah J. Whitley, the school earned its state accreditation in 1928 and was awarded Southern Association Accreditation in 1936.

As a proud graduate of this historic school, McKinley Jones was more than a student—he was part of a legacy built on courage, sacrifice, and the enduring belief in education as a pathway to progress. Mobile County Training School not only shaped his future but also contributed to the educational advancement of an entire region. After graduation, McKinley began work at Brookley Air Field in Mobile. With the nation at war, he soon answered the call to serve and enlisted in the United States Navy, becoming a World War II veteran. After an honorable discharge in 1945, his service continued at sea as a Merchant Marine seaman, contributing to national security and global supply during critical years in American history.

In the 1950 U.S. Census, a 26-year-old McKinley (listed as Kinsy Jones) was the head of his own household on Garrison Avenue in Prichard. He was employed as a Hydraulic Department Operator at a local Army Air Installation, providing for his young wife, Lena Gray Jones, and their growing family. His mother, Pearl, lived with them, embodying the close-knit multigenerational dynamic that remained a hallmark of the Jones family.

Later in life, McKinley became a dedicated civil servant at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida, where he worked for over 40 years until his retirement in 1988. His quiet dedication, reliability, and sacrifice for his family and country became defining traits of his legacy.

McKinley was married twice and fathered ten children. His first marriage to Lena Gray produced four sons: McKinley Jones, Jr., Martin Jones, Raymond Jones, and Andre Jones (deceased in infancy). After Lena's passing in 2000, McKinley married Clotilde Ruth Waymon Jones, and together they raised four sons and two daughters: Kenneth, Dorian, Willie, Alex, Toni, and Pamela. Sadly, Kenneth and Dorian also preceded him in death.

McKinley Jones, Sr. was deeply loved and admired by his children and extended family. He was known for his steady presence, disciplined work ethic, and firm commitment to providing a better future for the next generation. He lived a full and impactful life before passing away at home on December 15, 2014, at the age of 91, surrounded by loved ones.

His story is one of unwavering service—to his family, his country, and his community. The Jones-Carter Family Legacy is richer because of McKinley Jones, Sr., a man whose life reminds us all of the power of endurance, love, and faith.

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…” – Proverbs 13:22