Alma Clementine Jones Bland was born in Florence, Alabama. I was the tenth of eleven children. Her parents were Joe W. and Cornelia M. Dixon. From the time I can remember my parents took me to Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church where Reverent Crump was the pastor. At the age of twelve, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and joined Mount Moriah. I sang in the choir, attended Sunday School and BYPU and soon became a Sunday School.

I attended Slater Elementary School and Burrell High School. In Florence, Alabama. After graduating from high school, I moved to Chicago where my sister Novella Mann, my Brothers Isaac, Samuel, and Charlie already resided. I joined Greater Saint John Baptist Church (now Saint John Church Baptist) where my family, including my aunt, Priscilla Body were already members. I have remained a member since 1953. At Saint John, I sang in the Gospel Choir, attended Sunday School. At St John, I have taught, and continues to teach, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and served as Sunday School Superintendent for fifteen years. As Superintendent, I attended the National Baptist Convention every year. Our Sunday School teachers, especially those who taught children and youth, were encouraged to bring every child, regardless of financially circumstances, to attend the convention. Many of our children had never been out of the city.

I married Wallace Jones, Sr. To this union four children (two boys and two girls) were born: Lavoria Barrett, who is a nurse; Wallace Jones, Jr., a teacher; twins, Maurice, Master Gunnery Sgt., Marine Corp’ and Dr. Marilyn Fisher, Psychologist (Deceased). I have four grandchildren: one grandson, Lambers Fisher, LMFT. MDiv., Samantha R. Barrett Rogers, Cynthia Barrett, and Amber Z. Jones. I also have four great grandchildren: Isis Rogers, Khloe Barnhart, and Mia and Aja Fisher.

In 1984, Alden Bland(deceased) and I were married. Alden was a very special man. He was a talented writer and an avid bible scholar. He was a God send for me and my children.

After my children were in school, I decided to go to college. I attended Wilson Junior College while working nights at the Post Office and received an AA Degree. I continued my education and received both a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master of Arts Degree from Roosevelt. Finally, I received a PhD. Degree in Education and Supervision from Northwestern University.

After I received my bachelors, I taught seventh and eighth grade students at Poe Elementary School. After three years I became assistant principal at Cullen Elementary School. Shortly thereafter, the principal left Cullen and I became Acting Principal. After passing the Principal’s Examination, I was selected to be Principal of Carver Primary School and Wheatley Child-Parent Center in Altgeld Gardens (a housing project). The complex consisted of four separate buildings with a staff of more than fifty teachers and staff and over eight hundred students, PreK-5th grade. Most of the students were from single-parent, low-income homes and most of whom had little formal education. I partnered with City Junior College which brought teachers to the school to help parents get a GED. Several parents took classes and received the GED, some continued and received an AA Degree. Two of the parents continued and got a bachelor’s degree and returned to the school as teachers during my tenure.

My teachers at Carver Primary School and Wheatley Child Parent Center were dedicated and the majority of our students were reading when they completed kindergarten. We piloted an All-Day kindergarten program which was approved by the Chicago Board of Education. The program was duplicated in all of the child-Parent Centers in the system and subsequently implemented in all Chicago public schools. While working in the Altgeld community, I served on several boards: Chairman of the Local Board of Managers for Chicago Youth Centers (helped raise funds and provided tutoring and counseling services for children and youth; as Chairman of Board for the Clinic of Altgeld and worked with Dr. Gloria Jackson Bacon a new State of the Arts Clinic in the Altgeld community; and I also served on the Board of Developing Communities Organization with Barack Obama, an organization designed to organize community leaders for political action.

In 1990, I received The Whitman Award for Excellence in Education Management. In conjunction with Saint Xavier University, the first twenty principals to receive the award organized the Whitman Academy. The Academy focused on helping principals improve their skills and worked with them to and their schools to improve student performance. I was selected as President of the Academy.

I have worked as an adjunct professor at Indiana State University-Northwest and student-teacher supervisor at Saint Xavier University,

I have been a member of DuSable Museum Woman’s Board of African American History, the oldest African American History Museum in the country, for twenty-one years.

I love to travel, I traveled to many cities in Mexico, and Europe, Australia,

South Africa, Tahiti and San Hose. Also, I have enjoyed a number of cruises.

For recreation, I play golf, do yoga, garden, and read.

In addition to the Whitman Award, I received the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Alpha Chapter Lola Parker Visionary Award for Dedicated Service to The Community; the W.H. Lewis Pathfinders Award from Lauderdale County Chapter of Alabama Democratic Conference, and the Dr. Margaret Burroughs Legacy Award from DuSable Museum Women’s Board.

Finally, my most important career has been to serve my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ by serving his People. I have dedicated my life to help and guide children and youth to find God and to be the best that they can be, and to serve adults and especially seniors as they strive to understand the Word of God and their Calling.

I am Truly Blessed