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FKOCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Valena C. Jones School was an important part of the educational
system in the city of Bay SL Louis and its students, from Waveland and Bay St Louis, have played vital roles in the history of these cities; and
WHEREAS, Among its graduates are men and women who have taken their place as true leaders in such areas as politics, education, and business; and
WHEREAS, Valena C. Jones bom on August 3,1872 in Bay St. Louis, Valena Cecelia MacArthor, began teaching schools in rural Mississippi about 1890; and
WHEREAS, She was principal of the Bay St Louis Negro School 1892-1897 and taught from 1897-1901 as a public school teacher in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, Several schools have been named in her honor including the Valena C. Jones in Bay St Louis and a year following her death a New' Orleans Public School was named in her honor; and
WHEREAS, Following the desegregation of schools the school was converted into space for Hancock County Senior Citizens, the Bay St Louis Fire and Police Departments and Employment offices; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Jones made an outstanding contribution as an educator and
was voted the most popular teacher in New Orleans public schools; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MAYOR LONGO, want to take this opportunity to welcome back those graduates for their reunion on July 7-9, 2000 and to wish all of you a great reunion and may the reunion be a wonderful day that will last in your memory for many years to come.