Rufus E. Jones
Rufus E. Jones | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 86th district | |
| In office 1981–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Emmitt Ford |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Cooper |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 21, 1940 Memphis, Tennessee |
| Died | October 20, 2019 (aged 79) Memphis, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marvis Kneeland-Jones |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University |
| Profession | Grocer |
Rufus E. Jones (August 21, 1940 – October 20, 2019)[1] was an American politician and businessman.
Early life[edit]
Jones grew up in the Boxtown neighborhood of South Memphis where his father operated Jones Supermarket.[2] As a youngster, he went in the grocery business with his father. Jones and his father also operated another South Memphis grocery store, Jones Big Star.[2][3] He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and Michigan State University.
Political career[edit]
Jones succeeded his childhood friend Emmitt Ford in the Tennessee House of Representatives and served from 1981 to 1996. He was a Democrat.[4] He was succeeded by Barbara Cooper.[5] Jones was the Tennessean delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1996.[6]
Personal[edit]
He was married to Marvis Kneeland-Jones, a retired schoolteacher. She was a member of the Memphis State Eight, the first group of African-American students to attend the University of Memphis, five years after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of desegregation in Brown v. Board of Education.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ "Longtime legislator Rufus E. Jones dies at age 79". The Daily Memphian.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Sybill C. (November 21, 2007). "Towne Center at Soulsville vision reflects a grocery store's past". Tri-State Defender. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
- ^ Dries, Bill (August 2, 2010). "In Search of an Oasis". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
- ^ "RUFUS E. JONES". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "BARBARA W. COOPER". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "Jones, Rufus, Jr". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "Marvis Kneeland-Jones". The History Makers. July 27, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2014.