Ernest Henry Jones, Jr.

In 1943, Ernest Jones, Jr. arrived in Starkville with his wife, Sara Lee Jeffries and his children, to learn how to operate a shoe shop that had been established in the Needmore section in 1940 by his older brother Leo, who had been served with a draft notice to serve in the Army. Leo left for the Army and Ernest established a thriving business, and he and his wife Sara raised seven children in Starkville. After a number of years, he relocated the Shoe Shop to the corner of Lafayette and Lampkin Streets near a number of other African American businesses. Jones Shoe Shop worked together with Evans Shine Parlor, helping to refer customers to each other’s shops. Both became very successful and trained many young boys in work and life skills. Ernest always supported other African American businesses and often supplied funds when he saw a need and to help them prosper. After retiring in 1977, he built the West Main Senior Citizens Complex, to provide safe, decent, and sanitary housing for low-income citizens. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served on its board of directors. He was a lifetime member of the NAACP, a Board member of the Rest Haven Cemetery on Echols Rd, and served as deacon, church treasurer, and chair of the deacon ministry at 2nd Baptist Church.  The Shoe Shop, like the Evans Shine Parlor, had a mostly white cliental and, although a supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, he did not openly participate in marches or boycotts, fearing retaliation, the loss of customers and eventually his business and support for his family. He instead worked behind the scenes to make a difference in Oktibbeha County.  His contributions to the community will be evident for many years to come.