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During the lour years between 1897 and 1901 when Valena Cecelia MacArthur seived as a public school teacher in New Orleans, she was voted the most popular bktck teacher in the city.
According to Robert Meyer Jr. in "Name^ Oyer New Orleans Public Schools.'' Valeria ^Mac Arthur was born on August 3. 1872 at She began teaching school in rural Mississippi about 1890. two years before she was graduated from Straight College in New Orleans. Upon graduating in 1892. she was made principal ai' rhr Riiv	ouis	Neero School and
served in that position until 1897 when she left to teach in the New Orleans public schools.
She retired from teaching in 1901 to become the wife of Rev. Robert E. Jones, who i subsequently became Resident Bishop of J the New Orleans area for the Methodist " Episcopal Church. However, Mrs. Jones continued to take an active interest in educational activities while helping her husband edit the Southwestern Christian Advocate. She died in New Orleans on January 13. 1917 at the age of 44 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
Among those who attended her funeral were six notable black men and women w ho were to share with Valena C. Jones the distinction of having New Orleans public schools named for them: Dr. Joseph S. Clark. Re\. Henderson H. Dunn. Mary D Coghill. Alfred Lawless Jr., Albert Wicker and Sylvanie F. Williams.
In 1918. one year after her death, Valena C. Jones became the fourth black for whom a New Orleans public school was named. The distinction had previously been bestowed on Edmonia Lewis, Thorny Lafon and Col. James Lewis.
The elementary school named for Mrs. Jones at 1901 North Galvez Street dates back to 1905, w hen local community efforts were organized to raise funds for the establishment of the first public school for the black youth of the neighborhood. The Seventh Ward Educational League sponsored fairs, parties, fish fries and picnics and b\ 1911 had raised sufficient money to
VALENA C. JONES
purchase four lots of ground at Miro and Annette streets. The property was offered to the Orleans Parish School Board, but the Board did not have funds immediately available for the erection of a school building.
The Educational League temporarily selected a nearby tenement building for classroom space. This old building, which had been an infamous place of vice, was converted by the School Board into a place of learning and was called the Miro School. The disastrous hurricane of 191? completely destroyed the old building but. through the efforts of the school's first principal. Hattie V. Feger. the school continued to function with classes in separate homes, a grocery store and a church.
In the year following the storm, the School Board erected a small school on the property purchased by the Seventh Ward Educational League. This school building, which was named in honor of Valena Jones in 1918. was replaced by the present large, three-story school building in 1929.
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VOL. XXVI FEB. 28. 1977 NO. 14
Copyright 1977 a*, New Orleam PjdIiC Serv>ce Inc.