BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Alice F. Jones
4th African American Woman Marine Officer
November 21, 1946 – August 16, 2009
Alice was born in Vandemere, North Carolina, on November 2r, 1946, to the
late George and Emma Jones. In her youth, Alice joined St. Antioch
Congregational Christian Church, now the St. Antioch United Church of Christ
in Maribel, North Carolina. She attended North Carolina University at Durham
from 1964 to 1968. In 1968, she joined the military, where she became the
fourth Black female lieutenant in the Marine Corps. In 1977, she received her
Master's degree in Library Science from the University of Maryland.
Throughout her career. Alice was an accomplished and determined administrator. She dedicated
many years of her professional life to veterans, working for the Vietnam Veterans" Leadership
Program, the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans' Employment and Training Service, and the New York
State Division of Veterans' Affairs. For five months in 2004, Alice worked on a U.S. military base in Italy,
providing training for soldiers returning from the Iraq War, and helping them develop new skills as they
embarked upon re-entry into civilian life.
ALICE HAD A STRONG FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY. She joined the Riverside Church in 1988
and worked tirelessly for Riverside, contributing her multiple talents as a member of many
committees and commissions. She was a founding member and chair of the Spiritual Life
Retreat Committee, which organized and promoted spiritual retreats for the Riverside
community. In the 19 years she served the committee, Alice never missed a retreat.
This past June, despite the many obstacles she endured as a result of her illness, she was still
determined to participate in this ministry that meant so much to her. Alice also served on the Church
Council, the Membership and Parish Life Commission, the Board of Ushers, the Budget and
Planning Committee, the Personnel and Planning Committee. Laity Empowerment and the Black
Christian Caucus. This past May, in honor of her many years of dedicated service to Riverside, Alice was
awarded the James M. Washington Award, which is awarded annually to a lay leader to "remember and
honor Jim Washington's love and profound sense of Christian discipleship."
Alice, known to her family as "Little,- was a kind and giving person. Her strength was quiet, yet evident, and
her appreciation for family and friends was ongoing. In the last months of life, she said that the most
important thing in her life were her relationships. She endured her illness with immeasurable grace.
She is survived by the following: her sister, Ms. Ethel M. Jones of Brooklyn, New York; two sisters-in-law,
Mrs. Charity Ollison Jones of Mesic, North Carolina., and Mrs. Gertrude Jones of Brooklyn. New York; eight
nieces; sixteen great-nieces; four great-great nieces; two nephews; five great-nephews; two great-great
nephews; several nephews-in-law and nieces-in-law; and many cousins and friends.
4th African American Woman Marine Officer
November 21, 1946 – August 16, 2009
Alice was born in Vandemere, North Carolina, on November 2r, 1946, to the
late George and Emma Jones. In her youth, Alice joined St. Antioch
Congregational Christian Church, now the St. Antioch United Church of Christ
in Maribel, North Carolina. She attended North Carolina University at Durham
from 1964 to 1968. In 1968, she joined the military, where she became the
fourth Black female lieutenant in the Marine Corps. In 1977, she received her
Master's degree in Library Science from the University of Maryland.
Throughout her career. Alice was an accomplished and determined administrator. She dedicated
many years of her professional life to veterans, working for the Vietnam Veterans" Leadership
Program, the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans' Employment and Training Service, and the New York
State Division of Veterans' Affairs. For five months in 2004, Alice worked on a U.S. military base in Italy,
providing training for soldiers returning from the Iraq War, and helping them develop new skills as they
embarked upon re-entry into civilian life.
ALICE HAD A STRONG FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY. She joined the Riverside Church in 1988
and worked tirelessly for Riverside, contributing her multiple talents as a member of many
committees and commissions. She was a founding member and chair of the Spiritual Life
Retreat Committee, which organized and promoted spiritual retreats for the Riverside
community. In the 19 years she served the committee, Alice never missed a retreat.
This past June, despite the many obstacles she endured as a result of her illness, she was still
determined to participate in this ministry that meant so much to her. Alice also served on the Church
Council, the Membership and Parish Life Commission, the Board of Ushers, the Budget and
Planning Committee, the Personnel and Planning Committee. Laity Empowerment and the Black
Christian Caucus. This past May, in honor of her many years of dedicated service to Riverside, Alice was
awarded the James M. Washington Award, which is awarded annually to a lay leader to "remember and
honor Jim Washington's love and profound sense of Christian discipleship."
Alice, known to her family as "Little,- was a kind and giving person. Her strength was quiet, yet evident, and
her appreciation for family and friends was ongoing. In the last months of life, she said that the most
important thing in her life were her relationships. She endured her illness with immeasurable grace.
She is survived by the following: her sister, Ms. Ethel M. Jones of Brooklyn, New York; two sisters-in-law,
Mrs. Charity Ollison Jones of Mesic, North Carolina., and Mrs. Gertrude Jones of Brooklyn. New York; eight
nieces; sixteen great-nieces; four great-great nieces; two nephews; five great-nephews; two great-great
nephews; several nephews-in-law and nieces-in-law; and many cousins and friends.
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