BY KIM KERVIN
AUTAUGA COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE
Never underestimate the power of a small community! Jones Community Center is a well-loved building located in Jones, Alabama. Over the course of the past few decades, the center has been home to various happy occasions, meet and greets, political forums, ice cream gatherings, election day activities, and just a fun place to meet up and catch up with the good people of Jones.
The Community Center was once the community’s school and is full of golden school day reminders, from the chalk boards to the small schoolhouse stage. The only thing more delightful than Jones Community Center is the people who fill its halls a few times each month.
Over time, the Center has needed various repairs. Most recently, the community decided it was time to repaint the facility. With the high cost of the improvement looming overhead, the community joined together with a plan to make it happen. During the month of September, community members held a vintage rummage sale. Of course, in a close-knit community like Jones, any event also includes a time of fellowship and reminiscing. Following the rummage sale, everyone joined together for an ice cream social and cake auction. Melba Chandler, who organized the collection efforts, said “Ruth Webster was the star of the auction with her finger up for nearly every cake. She said she was trying to bring the bids up but that backfired on her a couple of times. [Webster] ended up with two and a half cakes! So, if you are hungry for cake just give her a call. The bids for cake totaled $1,160.00. The total received for the one day is $3,702.86. Not bad for a Podunk beautiful town in the middle of nowhere, huh?
Other individuals who worked tirelessly to make the event happen are Golda Reed, Helen Reed, Ginger Jones Reed, Debbie Walker, Brenda Turner, Minnie Grover, Jerry Smitherman, Nancy Chandler, Dina Godfrey Chandler, Paul V Atchison, Wayne and Libby Ousley, and Larry Caver.
With the rummage sale, cake auction, and various donations from individuals and organizations, the Jones community has been successful in its efforts to collect all the money needed for the current improvements. Now, you would think everyone would take a much-needed break.
Think again, the members are working on their next project. Chandler is working on a community cookbook that will be ready by Christmas. The cookbook will be full of recipes from local members who no longer grace the halls of the Community Center but whose memories are shared each month during those special gatherings. If you are interested in a cookbook, please follow the Jones Community Center Facebook page.
See more photos below.
