Bill > HR32

This resolution honors Reverend Shandy Jones, an African American businessman, minister, and politician who lived in Alabama during the mid-19th century. Born in 1816 to an enslaved mother, Jones was emancipated before age 21 and became a successful barber in Tuscaloosa, accumulating significant wealth and real estate holdings by 1860. He was ordained as a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, helped establish Tuscaloosa's first Black school and church, and was involved with the American Colonization Society. During Reconstruction, Jones was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, becoming one of the first Black legislators in the state. Despite facing intense racial hostility that forced him to relocate to Mobile in 1871, he continued to serve his community as a church pastor and received a federal appointment from President Ulysses S. Grant. The resolution specifically recognizes Jones's remarkable achievements in overcoming the challenges of slavery and racial discrimination, highlighting his contributions to the Black community and his advocacy for freedom and equality. The resolution also notes that Big Zion AME Zion Church will hold a Heritage Day on February 9, 2025, to honor Reverend Jones's memory.