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- MADELINE WILSON JONES
1915 - 1973
Madeline Jones taught in Morgan County schools for 31 years. She isremembered by many for her quiet wisdom and determined spirit. "Mrs.Madeline," as she was known to her students, was born November 5, 1915-- the second daughter of Sarah Melvinina Jones Wilson (1888-1916) andJesse Monroe Wilson (1890-1975). Due to her father's interest inunusual names for his children, she was named Aleta Madeline. Theidea for the name Madeline came from the French novel 'Les Miserables'which he read during the weeks preceding her birth. Her sister, olderby nineteen months, was named Evelyn Yetive. Subsequent half-brotherswere named Jesse James, Gaylon Eugene, Glenn Scott, and Donald Allen.Her half-sister was named Virginia J
Three months after her birth in the 2nd District of Morgan County,Madeline's mother died of pneumonia. From the time of her mother'sdeath, she and her sister were cared for by her maternal aunts Bertha,Columbia and Florence Jones, her uncle Henderson, and hergrandparents, Serena Clay Barger Jones (1847-1939) and Benjamin WileyJones (1854-1920). The house in which she was born, built by herfather, was located on the Jones farm in the Joyner community. Itremained unoccupied for many years after the death of "Sallie" Wilson.
Jesse Wilson worked at various jobs in the Morgan County area afterhis wife's death. He lived at Petros with his parents, Esther GlassWilson (1872-1968) and Peter Wilson (1886-1940). He made frequentvisits to see his children unless circumstances prevented him fromdoing so. One such set of circumstances was the influenza epidemic of1918. Mr. Wilson's large family was beseiged with the flu. One dayhe walked by the Ben Jones farm on his way to make funeralarrangements for a teen-aged sister. On the way, he stopped to yellfrom the gate to check on the condition of his daughter, Madeline,aged three, who was suffering from both diptheria and scarlet
fever. Contact between the two families had been almost impossiblebecause of the flu epidemic.
After making arrangements for the burial of that sister and yetanother teen-aged sister who died the next day, Mr. Wilson againvisited his daughter. Her condition was critical. The Jones familyhad been "sitting up" with her every night for oveer a month, and the"Granny woman" of the community had given up hope. Mr. Wilson went toHarriman and persuaded/coerced a throat specialist to make a housecall to treat his daughter, Madeline. The fee agreed upon was $25 anda gallon of moonshine -- the moonshine to be paid after the visit wascompleted. It was to this doctor, and her father for bringing him,that Madeline Jones owed her life. After the specialist treated her,her condition continued to improve, although she had a permanenthearing loss and was thin and pale for the remainder of her childhood.
Madeline attended Joyner Elementary School where she graduated fromthe eighth grade. She and her sister walked the two miles to schooleach day even in cold, snowy weather. She attended Central HighSchool in Wartburg where she graduated in 1934, the salutatorian ofher class. After her graduation, she attended the University ofTennessee.
Her first teaching position was at Ruppee School in the southwestportion of Morgan County. It was a one-room school for which shereceived a warrent for $50 a month. Due to the insolvency of thecounty, it was almost impossible to cash these warrants for fullvalue. Madeline boarded with the Fred Hamby family in the Ruppeecommunity. In addition to teaching school, her responsibilitiesincluded preparing her students to sing at funerals and escorting themto the church to do so. On at least one occasion, she also assistedMrs. Hamby in making a shroud.
After summer school at the University of Tennessee, Madeline returnedfor a second year at Ruppee School. In the meantime, she had acquireda permanent certificate to teach elementary school in the state ofTennessee. She also purchased a 1937 Chevrolet from Schubert MotorCompany with the understanding she would be taught to drive. SchubertMotor Company was one of the few places where you could get full valuefor a county warrent provided part of the money was applied to a carpayment.
Later teaching positions included Petros Elementary School andElizabeth School. During World War II, she was teacher/principal ofJoyner School. From there she was transferred to Oakdale High Schoolwhere she taught two years.
In 1939, Madeline Wilson married Kenneth Collin Jones, also of theJoyner Community. They were the parents of one daughter, Betty Lynn,who is married to Don L. McNeilly. They have two daughters -- DonnaLynn and Lisa Dawn.
The greater part of Madeline Jones' teaching career was spent teachingin Wartburg schools. When the new high school building was completedin 1946, she transferred from Oakdale to Central High School. Thereshe taught a variety of subjects -- math, algebra, French, andphysical education.
In 1950, Madeline returned to elementary school, teaching fifth gradeat Central Elementary School from that time until her retirement in1968. By that time she had taught the children of many of her formerstudents. Her classes were well-disciplplined although she seldomresorted to "paddling." Her methods were up-to-date and designed toimpart basic education while keeping students interested in learning.She set professional standards for herself that few teachers were ableto attain, and she retired at the age of 53 when she felt she could nolonger meet her own standards.
Aleta Madeline Wilson Jones died January 15, 1973 after a courageousbattle against cancer. Her legacy to her former students is thememory of her wisdom and determination.
Written in response to a request from the Morgan County RetiredTeachers Association
*
Written and submitted
by Betty Lynn Jones McNeilly
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1915 - 1973 (57 years)
Siblings