Jacob Alexander Freeney

Mr. Jacob Alexander Freeney was born April 30, 1924, in Searight, Alabama. He was welcomed into the world by his parents, Hillyard and Auntie Rudolph Freeney.
A religious man, Freeney was of the Baptist faith. He was a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia.
Upon graduating high school, Freeney enlisted in the United States Navy. He achieved the rank of First-Class Petty Officer while serving on the US Navy 7th Fleet. He served in the South Pacific, 5 Battle Stars. After four years of service, he was honorably discharged.
When he could no longer serve in a military capacity, Freeney pursued post-secondary schooling for himself. He received both his Bachelor of Science Degree (Major in Science with a Minor in Math) and his Master of Education Degree from Alabama State University. While attending Atlanta University, he was awarded a state grant for advance study at the University of Oklahoma, where he was able to further his academic interests and activities in public school administration. Additionally, he pursued administrative and supervisory studies at North Carolina College in Durham, North Carolina, and the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.
Freeney's collegiate studies led him to serve beyond his military duties. He would spend several decades in public education teaching, instructing on the college level, and providing academic oversight on local and state levels. His resume speaks volumes.
The inception of Freeney's career in education took place in the science, math, and physics classrooms of Dalton High School in Dalton, Georgia, where he also served as chairman of the Science department. From there, he provided evening and summer instruction at the Columbus branch of Albany State College in Albany, Georgia, where he served as the curriculum study for the Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. He then went back to public education and taught science and math at Admiral King High School in Lorain, Ohio, and taught physics at Warrensville Height High School in Ohio.
The next level for Freeney was administration. He landed his first principalship at Mt. Vernon High School in Mt. Vernon, Georgia, for six years, where he developed curriculum, established intramural sports, coached basketball, and developed school community programs. Then, he served as the principal of Randolph County High School in Cuthbert, Georgia, for seven years, where he was an active member and facilitator of the local Parent-Teacher Association and other civic groups in planning and implementing community programs. His last principal position was at Emery Street High School in Toccoa, Georgia.
The next sixteen years of his career in education were spent as an educational consultant with the Ohio Department of Education in school finance, pupil transportation, bus driver training, driver education, teacher negotiation, and school evaluation. His responsibilities required working with school administrators (public and non-public), teachers, parents, boards of elections, county auditors, local and state agencies, and vocational schools.
While in Lorain, Ohio, Freeney stepped into the political arena. He served three terms as a city councilman.
With such an exhaustive work history, one would wonder if Freeney ever found the time for recreation. He did, and he enjoyed playing and teaching tennis; reading; watching football, baseball, and basketball; attending theatrical plays; listening to music; and playing and teaching duplicate bridge.
On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at his home in Albany. Georgia, Mr. Freeney peacefully went to rest. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sister Marilyn Vernita Jenkins Freeney; and his daughter, Deborah Freeney.
Mr. Freeney leaves behind to cherish his memories: sons, Bobby (Naomi) Jenkins of Cuthbert, Georgia, and Michael Freeney of Albany, GA; grandchildren, Theron Jenkins of Jacksonville, Florida, Traci Jenkins of Atlanta, Georgia, and Qiandra Freeney of Chicago, Illinois; two great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Sammie Jenkins and Samolyn Jenkins, both of Dawson, Georgia, and Dorothy Jenkins of Albany, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family would like to thank a close family friend, Al Wynn, and his staff of Glenwood Private Home Care for their loving care and support and the staff at Gentiva Hospice.