Sam H. Jones Sr.

Sam H. Jones, Sr., 75, was born on March 3, 1928 in Heidelberg, Mississippi to the late Henry and Sallie Belle (Taylor) Jones. Jones, a 1950 graduate of Clark College in Atlanta, GA, also earned an MA in Sociology in 1954 and an MSW in Social Work in 1956, both from Atlanta University. Jones completed several executive programs including Harvard Executive Management Program, IUPUI School of Philanthropy, Indiana University Poynter Center Seminar on Ethics and Business, and the Michigan State University School of Law Enforcement. Jones, a 46 year veteran of the Urban League, began his career in Cleveland, Ohio and worked in Michigan and Minnesota before becoming the President of the Indianapolis Urban League in 1966. Through the Urban League Jones worked tirelessly to assure equal access to education, housing and healthcare. He was devoted to improving police and community relations and the quality of life for all citizens in the Indianapolis community. Jones served on a myriad of professional, social, civic, educational, private sector, public sector and religious organization boards and committees including Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Near North Development, Methodist Hospital Foundation, Indiana Conference on Social Concerns and Citizens Complaint Advisory Board. Jones was most proud of the permanent Urban League facility completed under his leadership and the opening of the Diversity and Race Relations Institute. Jones retired from the Indianapolis Urban League on December 31, 2002. Jones received numerous awards including the Whitney M. Young Race Relations Leadership Award from the National Urban League, Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Association for Equal Opportunities and Higher Education nominated by Clark Atlanta University, Oscar McCulloch Social Concerns Award and Sagamore of the Wabash from the State of Indiana. Jones has received honorary degrees from Vincennes University, Butler University, Martin University, Christian Theological Seminary and Indiana University. Jones was honored to have Indianapolis Mayor, Bart Peterson, name the City's top award for diversity the "Sam H. Jones Best of the Best Award". Jones was an active member of Alpha Eta Boule, Omega Psi Phi, Rotary, NAACP, a 33rd Degree Mason and the Quarter Century Club of the National Urban League. Jones was an active member of the United Methodist Church and an ardent supporter of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Jones is survived by his wife Prethenia Kent Jones, his children, Marya Jones Overby (Charles E. Overby), Sam H. Jones, Jr. (Rhoda McKinney Jones), The Reverend Michael Kent Jones; his sisters, Francis Jones and Bobby Smith; a brother, James W. Jones; his mother-in-law, Elise J. Kent; and one grandchild. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 3 at the Eastern Star Church with calling from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 at Stuart Mortuary Chapel.