Dolphus Nolan Jones

February 9, 1918 - January 20, 2011

Funeral services for Rev. Dolphus Nolan Jones, 92, of Caldwell are set for 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 28, 2011, at First Baptist Church of College Station, 2300 Welsh Avenue, College Station, Texas 77845, with the Rev. M. O. Cooper officiating. Interment will follow at Goodwill Cemetery in the Teals Prairie Community under the care and direction of Strickland Funeral Home of Caldwell. Mr. Jones passed away January 20, 2011, in Caldwell.

Dolphus was born the seventh of ten children on February 9, 1918, to Gonzales A. Jones and Ada Hammonds Jones in the Cedar Creek Community of Burleson County, Texas. He graduated from the Smith Graded School in the Teals Prairie Community, 14 miles from Caldwell, Texas. He was a farmer and rancher by trade and also an avid carpenter. Of the numerous houses, barns and churches he built 28 remain standing today. He retired from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service where he served from September 1974 to March 1983 as an Agricultural Extension Agent. From 1967 until 2002, he was a member of the Brazos Valley Council of Governments (formerly the Brazos Valley Development Council). While a member of the council, he was the recipient of numerous awards and citations for his dedication to the spread of equal development in the region. Upon his retirement after 35 years on the council, it was noted that he was the only original member still serving. He was also a 3rd Degree Master Mason.

In 1957, Rev. Jones received the H. O. Sergeant Award given through Prairie View A&M University and the New Farmers of America (NFA), the highest honor bestowed on Negro farmers during this era. This award honored Negro farmers by encouraging and promoting agricultural production.

Perhaps his greater service to the public has been his steadfastness in the ministry of God. Rev. D. N. Jones was licensed to preach on October 20, 1957, at the Goodwill Baptist Church in Caldwell, Texas. Less than one year later, on January 5, 1958, he was ordained to preach. In that same year, he was called to pastor the Macedonia Baptist Church in Caldwell, Texas. He went on to pastor the Mt. Aria Baptist Church in Normangee, Texas, and the Greater Tabernacle Baptist Church in Bryan. He spent 42 consecutive years in service to the Greater Tabernacle Baptist Church congregation, making him one of the longest serving pastors of a church in Bryan, Texas.

Rev. Jones received his Bachelor of Theology (1972), Master of Theology (1974), and Doctorate of Theology (1975) degrees from the Union Baptist Bible College and Seminary. As a member of the Central District Association of Churches, Rev. Jones served as Treasurer for five years and Moderator from 1977 through 1993.

Rev. Jones was a lifelong and active member of the NAACP and worked tirelessly to achieve equality for all races in the community, state and nation. He had the honor of being the final graduation speaker for the 1968 commencement ceremonies of the E. A. Kemp High School in Bryan, Texas, prior to its integration. He also had the honor of being the first African American speaker at a post integration graduation at Caldwell High School in 1977.

Rev. Jones married Ms. Emma O. Sadberry on December 24, 1939. From their union, seven children were born. Mrs. Emma O. Jones passed away on November 24, 1982. Rev. Jones later married Ms. Ola Brown Heat on May 6, 1983.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Isaiah "Ike" Jones; four brothers, Roosevelt, Andrew, Gonzales, Jr., and Henry Jones; four sisters, Lillie Thompson, Annie Lee Jefferson, Della Paterson, and Maude Furlough.

Dolphus is survived by his wife; brother and sister-in-law, Isaiah & Evelyn Jones of Houston, Texas; sons and daughters-in-law, Donald & Gladys Jones of Chicago, Ill., Bill & Johnita Jones of Austin, Texas; daughters and sons-in-law, Yvonne & Bill Johnson of Ft. Worth, Texas, Audrey Jones Ali of Houston, Texas, Lillian Jones George of Caldwell, Texas, Zudia & Freddie L. Green of Caldwell, Texas; daughter-in-law, Geanne Jones of Caldwell, Texas; 18 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and a host of nephews, nieces, and family friends, including his life-long friend and playmate, Jack Flemming, of California.

Pallbearers will be Dolphus Rochon George, Darwyn Harp, Elliott Jones, Cameron Jones, Carson Jones, Quincy Hall, Billy Poole, Thomas Walker Hassan Salaam, Hussein Ali, John F. Green, and Isaiah Jones, Jr.

Honorary pallbearers are: Donald Jones, Bill Jones, Bill Johnson, Freddie L. Green, and classmates from the Union Baptist Bible College & Seminary: Rev. Morris Williams, Rev. E. E. Garvin, Rev. Neal Nutall, Jr., Rev. M. D. Morgan, Rev. U. L. Green, and Rev. Oscar Dove.

The family requests that all memorials may be made directly to his favorite ministry - The Greater Tabernacle Baptist Church at 907 Florida Street, Bryan, TX 77803.

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